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(12646, 4, '2014-09-25 15:31:55', '2014-09-25 22:31:55', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Rancho-Cucamonga.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1190" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Rancho-Cucamonga-290x290.jpg" alt="Rancho Cucamonga" width="290" height="290" /></a>The Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) has released this year’s report, ranking for all RT programs in the U.S. The most important outcome is the 3-year average Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential success, as it represents the Standard of Excellence in this profession. Below are the 2012/2013 rankings, respectively:\n\n<b>California state </b>(36 programs): <b># 6 / # 3\n</b><b>So. California</b>(21 programs): <b># 3 /# 1</b><b>\n</b><b>Inland Empire </b>(10 programs):<b> # 1 /# 1</b>\n\n“Our goal is to be #1 in the State,” says Ricardo Guzman, RT Program Director at the <a title="SJVC Rancho Cucamonga" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cucamonga/">Rancho Cucamonga </a>campus. Mr. Guzman goes on to explain that the two programs currently ahead of SJVC in the SoCal area are traditional 3-year programs and graduated 23 and 11-students, respectively, in the last reporting year.\n\n“In the same time period we graduated 81 (RT students), so as far as we are concerned, we’re already #1,” he says.<b> </b>(For all of the results go to: <a href="http://www.coarc.com/47.html">http://www.coarc.com/47.html</a>)\n\nRecent RT graduate, Dinnell Medina, RRT-NPS, RCP, says, “It''s no wonder why SJVC Rancho Cucamonga <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">Respiratory Therapy Program</a> is ranked #1 in Southern California and #3 in the state. SJVC Rancho Cucamonga provides students with all the tools to build a new future and begin a fulfilling career. I never imagined that going to school for Respiratory Therapy would be such a rewarding experience.\n\n"This program has given me opportunities beyond any of my expectations. Every instructor is a source of knowledge eager to share his/her experience as a respiratory therapist. The classroom instructors are dedicated, experienced, individuals who are committed to their students. The clinical instructors relate the classroom learning materials/theories to how things are implemented in the hospital atmosphere. The instructors drive their students to be the best respiratory therapy students and future practitioners out there. They gave me the foundation to be a confident respiratory practitioner.\n\n"I would suggest to anyone who is considering Respiratory Therapy as a field of practice to attend SJVC Rancho Cucamonga. I am extremely proud to be part of this community and couldn''t thank the Respiratory Therapy Instructors enough for this rewarding experience."\n\n“I cannot emphasize enough how none of this would be possible without the dedication, talent and hard work of our instructors, both in the classroom and in clinic,” says Guzman.\n\n“Thank you, especially, Tom, Lea, Russ, Hank, Grey, Jo-Russell, Joe, Cris, Tin, Christy, Maryanne, Tony and Gerardo for making our success possible. Thank you, also, to Sherril, Richard, the management team and Senior Management for your constant support for all we do,” he adds.', 'Respiratory Therapy program in Rancho Cucamonga #1 in SoCal', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12378-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:31:55', '2014-09-25 22:31:55', '', 12378, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12378-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12647, 4, '2014-09-25 15:31:55', '2014-09-25 22:31:55', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Cucamonga-Press-Release.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1178" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Cucamonga-Press-Release-290x290.jpg" alt="Cucamonga Press Release" width="290" height="290" /></a>Last month <a title="SJVC Rancho Cucamonga" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cucamonga/">Rancho Cucamonga</a>’s <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">Respiratory Therapy</a> (RT) Program Director, Ricardo Guzman and RT instructor, Russell McCord joined over 100 Respiratory Therapists across the nation to meet with members of Congress in Washington, DC to promote the Medicare Respiratory Therapy Access Act. Passage of the Act into law would amend Medicare Part B to provide funds for Respiratory Therapists to work alongside physicians to provide education to patients about how to better manage their pulmonary disease.\n\nThe Respiratory Therapy profession feels that a patient’s better understanding of their disease and treatment would result in tremendous cost savings through fewer hospital admissions and emergency room visits. Education would also impact patient quality of life, as their respiratory disease becomes better managed. “Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) would teach those with pulmonary disease how to use their medications, such as inhalers, how to exercise underdeveloped muscles that have been deprived of oxygen and how to restore muscle reserve, as well as the importance of proper nutrition to promote strength, energy and wellness,” says Ricardo Guzman.\n\nDuring “Hill Day” proponents of the Act met with legislators and representatives from every state, including 17 from California. The purpose of the meetings was to solicit support for the Act to move successfully into Bill form, which would then be sent to the Congressional Budget Office for scoring, or cost determination. The Bill would then be sent to Congress for a deciding vote of support or rejection before Senate consideration. This process could take several months.\n\nThe RT coalition brought with them 861 action letters generated by California constituents to supplement the over 20,000 letters already sent to DC in support of the Medicare Respiratory Therapy Access Act. “Every one of SJVC’s 108 RT students sent a letter to our local legislators,” says Guzman. “Their efforts contributed to a very successful effort in Washington, as many of those we met with had already received our letters,” says Guzman.\n\n“At 8:00 AM all we had was the Act, and by 5:00 PM we had a congressional sponsor and co-sponsor with companion bills in both the Senate and the House.”', 'Respiratory Therapists go to DC to get Congressional Support', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12376-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:31:55', '2014-09-25 22:31:55', '', 12376, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12376-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12648, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:08', '2014-09-25 22:32:08', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/SJVC-Dog-House.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-1056" title="SJVC Dog House" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/SJVC-Dog-House-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a> Thanks to Construction Management students, Antonio Escobedo, Eddie Hernandez and Miguel Urbina some lucky dog has a new, upscale place to call home.\n\nAll three <a title="SJVC Rancho Cucamonga" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cucamonga/">Rancho Cucamonga </a>CM students volunteered their design and construction skills to build an elaborate pet house for an auction and raffle supporting HomeAid Inland Empire, a non-profit organization affiliated with the home-building industry that provides housing for homeless and low-income families. “They had a great time doing it and appreciated the process and final product,” says Steve Matley, CM Program Director.\n\nIn keeping with their educational experience at <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>, the students chose to design an old fashioned, cartoon style schoolhouse, complete with a working school bell. The finished school house was 6 feet long, 4 feet wide and over 6 feet tall, and weighed over 700 lbs.  The students attached large industrial locking casters to make it easier to move. The students also hand-painted a window image on the side of the school house depicting Snoopy, of the comic strip <em>Peanuts</em> fame, as a jailbird with his faithful pal Woodstock bringing him keys to escape. A sturdy wood-grain and water-resistant linoleum porch will give someone’s favorite pet a nice place to sit and protect his domain.\n\nThe SJVC doghouse took about a week to design and a couple of weekends to build. “They were proud of their work,” says Matley. Their well-crafted design was on display, with about a dozen other pet house contributions, at the Eastvale Shopping Center for two weeks.\n\nThe SJVC students, all members of the San Joaquin Valley College Chapter of the NAHB (National Association of Homebuilders), partnered with the local Building Industry Association (BIA-SC, BV) and the Homebuilders Institute (HBI) mentoring program. They provided the funding and the SJVC students provided the design and construction.  The students completed the project within the $1200.00 budget and delivered it to the display and auction event where a very happy couple and their dog won themselves a pet house that will be the envy of the neighborhood.\n\nAll of the proceeds went to HomeAid, a very appreciative beneficiary of the event.', 'A Dog''s Life Just Got a Little Better', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12359-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:08', '2014-09-25 22:32:08', '', 12359, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12359-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12649, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:08', '2014-09-25 22:32:08', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Candie-Garcia1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-609" title="Candie Garcia" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Candie-Garcia1-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>Candie Garcia watched three family members enroll in medical programs at the <a title="SJVC Rancho Cucamonga" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cucamonga/">Rancho Cucamonga </a>campus in the last four years. Her sister, Bernice, and sister-in-law, Divina, both graduated from the Medical Assisting program in 2010, and her brother, Joshua, is scheduled to graduate from the <a title="Pharmacy Technology" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology/">Pharmacy Technology </a>program this August. They convinced her that SJVC was the place to begin training for her career in medicine.\n\nNow, about to graduate this month with a 3.94 GPA, she is certain they were right.\n\n“I didn’t realize that it was going to go by so fast,” says Candie. Classes seemed a perfect fit for her interests. “Ms. Cobb (venipuncture lab) really challenged us and prepared us for working with patients in the real world,” she says. “By the end of the class I was completely confident and knew the top 60 most commonly prescribed drugs.”\n\nAs a member of SJVC student clubs and national professional organizations and president of HOSA (Health Occupational Student Association), Candie had lots of opportunities to participate in community service events that allowed her to demonstrate her growing medical knowledge and techniques.\n\n“Part of what I learned working with real patients is that, even though someone might be a little bit grumpy, it’s important to still keep a smile on your face,” she says.\n\nVolunteering at community health fairs brought her face-to-face with patients and gave her lots of experience to take into her externship assignment.\n\nCandie’s mom was her greatest inspiration to go to college and to do well. Her mom missed her own chance to attend an art institute on a full scholarship, when her father wouldn’t let her go. Therefore she put her hopes and dreams for higher education on her children.\n\n“It’s very important for my mom to have us succeed, and it’s very important for us to make her proud,” says Candie.\n\nCandie has big plans for her future. This spring she will go on an 18-month mission for her church “spreading the word” in a country still unknown to her. When she returns she plans to go back to school to further her long-term dream of becoming a Family Practice doctor.\n\n“I’m going to keep going to school – all the way up,” says Candie. Her mother is undoubtedly very proud.', 'SJVC Is A Family Tradition For MA Student', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12339-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:08', '2014-09-25 22:32:08', '', 12339, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12339-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12650, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:08', '2014-09-25 22:32:08', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Nicole-Murakami.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-644" title="Nicole Murakami" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Nicole-Murakami-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>“I’ve always been the kind of person who likes to try new things, to be optimistic about change and not stay on the same road,” says Nicole Murakami, Administrative Health Care Management student at the <a title="SJVC Rancho Cucamonga" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cucamonga/">Rancho Cucamonga campus</a>. She has a lot of change lined up for herself after graduation next July.\n\nFor the moment, she is in total lock-down. Her Mon.-Thurs. morning classes are pretty intense, but still allow her to hold a full-time job at CostCo, where works a 1:30-10:00 pm schedule. Homework is squeezed into lunch breaks and weekends, which makes her social life fairly non-existent.\n\n“I have no outside life,” says Nicole, who has learned a hard lesson about who her ‘real friends’ are. “I’ve lost a lot of friends these last few months,” she says, “but the ones who stayed are really supportive.”\n\nBefore coming to<a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu"> SJVC</a>, Nicole spent a lot of time in and out of Community Colleges. “I couldn’t get the classes I wanted and was losing motivation,” she says.  Nicole’s Aunt Linda, who graduated from <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">SJVC’s Respiratory Therapy program </a>several years ago, suggested Nicole check out the college’s programs.\n\n“I really like that the classes are in 5-week blocks so that you are in and out fast and on to something new.” There’s that word again: new.\n\nNicole likes the one-on-one attention students get from instructors. “Small class sizes give us lots of the focus we need to get what they’re trying to teach us,” she says.\n\nShe especially likes her Sociology instructor, Mrs. Solis’, technique. “Mrs. Solis gets us involved and puts us into cultural and social situations we are studying.” “Using our life lessons makes it more fun.” Her enthusiasm for learning and participating in class has earned her a 3.8 GPA.\n\nNicole became interested in Office Administration in a medical environment when she saw a good friend of hers doing so well ‘billing and coding’ for a medical facility.\n\n“She loves her job, is well off financially and seems so happy,” says Nicole. It is a life Nicole knows she can have next year, as well, with her SJVC degree.\n\nNicole envisions her new life in Eugene, Oregon – or maybe San Diego. She is sure the career move – and the change – will do her good.', 'Change Is A Way Of Life For Rancho Cucamonga Student', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12345-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:08', '2014-09-25 22:32:08', '', 12345, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12345-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12651, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/HVAC-Scholarship-Winners.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-682" title="HVAC Scholarship Winners" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/HVAC-Scholarship-Winners-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>Most students don’t realize that there is a lot of scholarship money out there to help them with tuition expenses,” says Reneisha Wilkes, Student Resource Coordinator for <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC)</a> in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. She has made it a big part of her job to get the word out.\n\n&nbsp;\n\nOn Wednesday, November 7<sup>th</sup> four of SJVC’s<a title="Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration"> Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) </a>students were told they won scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $2,000 each from the Rees Scholarship Foundation. Mario Cedano, Jeremy Miller, John Morris and Jamie Barela were among fourteen HVAC students whom Reneisha encouraged to submit an application, and who met personal and professional requirements, such as community volunteerism, commitment to the HVAC industry and willingness to help others consider this career choice.\n\n"I was really happy to see that I was a recipient and this money will help me out a great deal,” says HVAC student, Mario Cedano. Scholarship awards will continue to be made throughout the next several months and Reneisha Wilkes will be happy to pass along the good news to SJVC recipients.\n\nThere are still 58 HVAC scholarships totaling about $300,000. available to students who qualify. “I help as many students as possible learn of the scholarship opportunities available to them,” says Wilkes.\n\nIn the last 18-months she has helped over 140 SJVC students receive $293,000. in awards that range from $200 to fully paid tuition. Each award is applied directly to the student recipient’s student loan, “which relieves a little of their financial burden,” says Wilkes.\n\nStudents interested in applying for various scholarships appropriate to their career program should contact their Student Resource Coordinator on campus for information and assistance.', 'HVAC Students Earn Scholarships', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12326-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12326, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12326-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12652, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/WONG.png"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-713" title="WONG" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/WONG-290x216.png" alt="" width="290" height="216" /></a>“Always be open to changes and accept the differences of a company or person. Be open to jumping in on opportunities like internships, because you never know where it could bring you.”\n\nThis is the advice Business Administration student Jennifer Wong gives students after completing an internship with <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/" target="_blank">SJVC</a> SIFE and Sam’s Club of Ontario.\n\nJennifer participated in an intensive ten-week program at Sam’s Club (a membership-only retail warehouse club owned and operated by Walmart Stores, Inc.) during which she worked and studied full time with the management and staff across all departments. At the conclusion of the internship, Jennifer was required to give a report and present it to judges.\n\nThe judges included SIFE advisors Maryann Sebelist, SJVC Rancho Cucamonga and Dr. Ghazzawi, University of LaVerne, as well as senior and regional management from Sam’s Club.\n\nJennifer wowed the judges with her final project, focusing her presentation on customer and employee concerns. Her above-par performance for these judges landed her a spot in Sam’s Club’s Manager In Training (MIT) program post graduation. This program will dive deeper into the concepts she learned during her internship, preparing her for a permanent role as a Sam’s Club manager.\n\nAs an intern, Jennifer’s primary responsibility was to observe the overall function of the warehouse. She shadowed managers and team leads of all departments and assisted with simple tasks around the warehouse.\n\n“Even though the objective was to shadow a manager or a team lead, I took the initiative to take on a role as a manager,” explained Jennifer. “Some days I would walk around and make sure members are finding everything all right or even supervise the checkout.”\n\nThe extra steps she took did not go unnoticed. All the store managers and many corporate employees were incredibly impressed by Jennifer’s skills.\n\nThis type of work is nothing new for Jennifer. She grew up around grocery retail and a warehouse setting so the “everyday chaos” was normal to her. However, she has now learned what it takes to coordinate all efforts - and that there is more to it than just paying vendors for what they give the store.\n\n“I learned a lot about working with a diverse group of people. You have to learn to be one with your associates regardless of your position.”\n\nJennifer believes that communication was key to having a supportive and successful team of workers.\n\n“Sam’s club has a great and powerful culture that I’m sure if we all adopt it, would better not only ourselves but the people around us.”', 'SJVC Student Accepted Into MIT Program Post Graduation', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12329-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12329, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12329-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12653, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-271" title="IMG_1694" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG_1694-300x153.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="153" /><a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> is bringing its career education and training programs to Ontario. Currently in Rancho Cucamonga, this SJVC campus is making the 3.2 mile move to better serve its students and increase community awareness of its presence.\n\nThe new campus, scheduled for build completion in August 2013, is located at 4580 Ontario Mills Parkway. At the intersection of Freeways 15 and 10, it will provide greater visibility and easier access for students and visitors. “The freeway frontage property will allow us to move from a low visibility area to a very high visibility advantage,” says Steve Perry, SJVC''s Director of Real Estate Development.\n\nThe new 2-story, 50,000 sq.ft. building will sit on 5 ½ acres and provide 400 parking stalls to better accommodate the student population, staff, faculty and visitors. SJVC’s campus structure will comply with all green standards and requirements, which will ensure that equipment and materials will enjoy more efficient energy consumption.\n\n“Our new building design is beautiful and places a particular emphasis on student gathering places,” says Sherril Hein, Campus Director. “Our indoor student center will provide student study, lounging and eating areas and our large outside patio is perfect for single or group gatherings,” she says.\n\n“We have a lot to bring to our new community,” says Mrs. Hein. “We have excellent, degree-granting programs, are <a title="Accreditation" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/accreditation/">WASC</a> (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accredited, and will provide a new resource for those seeking higher education and career training, that they may not have had before,” she says.\n\nThe City of Ontario will also benefit from their new business tenant, as will local real estate brokers, contractors, future students and employers who hire well-qualified graduates. “The City of Ontario has been very welcoming to us and eager to have us be part of the community,” says Hein, whose campus has been an Ontario Chamber of Commerce member for many years.\n\n&nbsp;', 'Rancho Cucamonga Breaks Ground!', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12314-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12314, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12314-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12654, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', 'May 25 started with 1600 teams, 3,600 people and four<a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu"> SJVC </a>students at the SIFE Nationals in Kansas City.  Three days later, those four SJVC students left not only as finalists for their “Let’s Can Hunger” project, but had been four of only 60 guests attending SIFE’s invitation only Silver Spoon Reception, honoring the top producing teams. “The judges and all attendees were amazed at the level of achievement from the teams,” said SIFE advisor Maryann Sebelist. The Rancho Cucamonga SIFE team put together such a strong marketing campaign on their campus to raise awareness about hunger that they were privileged to be a part of SIFE’s Nationals.“We pledged to collect and distribute a minimum of 5,000lbs of canned or dry boxed food and we more than doubled that goal,” said Sebelist.  In addition, the team created two YouTube videos that supported their mission (see links below).\n\nTheir efforts landed the SJVC team an invite to Nationals in Kansas City, where the students were able to observe competitors, network and receive various awards.  All SIFE clubs compete on one level regardless of their college, with the national competition including students from schools like SJVC as well as schools with masters and doctorate programs.\n\n“The last day was exciting as we watched the three final teams compete in the main theatre with panoramic screens,” said Sebelist.  “We watched as they responded to the judges'' questions…all were amazed at the level of achievement from the teams.  Absolutely amazing!”\n\nThe SJVC team was also invited to the Silver Spoon Reception, an awards ceremony for the top producing teams.  Only 60 guests were invited to the reception; SJVC was awarded a certificate, Silver Spoon and monetary award, after which they were able to meet the CEO of Campbell’s Soup.\n\nOther networking opportunities included meeting SIFE members from across the nation, interviewing sponsors and meeting business executives, including the President of SIFE, Donna Patterson.\n\n“Her (Patterson’s) broad experience and dynamic delivery was most impressive,” said Sebelist.\n\nThe mission statement of SIFE is "To bring together the top leaders of today and tomorrow to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business."\n\n“This goal was never more evident than when we were watching these winning teams present their accomplishments,” added Sebelist.\n\n“All the judges were executives from the many corporate sponsors present.  Needless to say, we could not have achieved this without our Director, Ms. Sherril Hein, all participating SJVC campuses, The Lions Club and Sam’s Club all working together to can hunger.”\n\nCongrats to our SJVC Rancho Cucamonga SIFE team on a job well done!\n\n<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwcNdTHmuy8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwcNdTHmuy8</a>\n<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mD1d4MZO1s">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mD1d4MZO1s</a>\n\n</div>', 'Rancho Cucamonga SIFE Finalists at Nationals', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12303-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12303, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12303-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12655, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/image.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-229" title="image" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/image-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" /></a>In April, <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> SIFE students stood before 14 judges in Hollywood, competing against 32 teams in 6 leagues. SJVC SIFE took Second Runner up in the competition by creating oral presentations, written reports and power points showing SIFE’s involvement in the community.\n\nThis year students from the<a title="SJVC Modesto" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/modesto/"> Modesto campus </a><em>(lead by Ashvindar Singh)</em> and the Visalia campus<em> (lead by David Morra)</em> joined forces in the competition. SIFE members were also supported by SIFE students from the Rancho Cucamonga campus <em>(lead by Maryann Sebelist).</em>\n\nThe students also had an opportunity to attend a career fair, with over 20 companies and corporations ready to interview and hire students; 3 SJVC students were interviewed on the spot. Members of SIFE were also able to network with other students and business leaders from the entire Western United States.\n\n<em>“We are looking forward to next year’s SIFE competition, building our next team campus wide.” David Morra-SIFE Advisor-Visalia Campus.</em>', 'SJVC SIFE Goes to Hollywood', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12299-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12299, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12299-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12656, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Capture.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-192 alignleft" title="Capture" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Capture-300x228.png" alt="" width="300" height="228" /></a>It was the first time I searched for my interviewee on YouTube.  Maybe it should be done more often.\n\nReneisha Wilkes, one of <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu" target="_blank">SJVC</a>’s own, has quite a few hits on YouTube.  Maybe it’s because she’s put in more community service hours in Southern California than anyone else.  Or maybe it’s because Ellen DeGeneres gave her a new car and $10,000.  Or maybe both.\n\nEither way, this is one student resource coordinator you need to know more about.\n\nWilkes started her own non-profit organization when she was 14, and almost by accident.  The daughter of a single mom, Wilkes noticed her mom’s efforts to make ends meet and wanted to do as much as she could to help.\n\n“I started looking for free resources and I saw lots of things I didn’t necessarily need but I knew other people could use,” said Wilkes.\n\nReneisha started making flyers listing these resources and gave them to friends – “…and it blew up from there!” said Wilkes.  “I had parents waiting for me after school for the resources I had.”\n\nAside from being philanthropic, Wilkes also laughingly describes herself as being “environmentally friendly” - and with her quickly expanding following, she found flyers were no longer her best choice.  She brought the seedling non-profit of her teenage years into the 21<sup>st</sup> century by creating a website in response to the demand, now called someonehelpme.com.\n\nWith a current count of over 72 volunteers through the US and 10-20 thousand website hits a week, Wilkes’ natural response to need has reached national proportions.\n\n“The volunteers that help with the non-profit are from all around the US and I get connected with them as they come across the website or by word of mouth…”\n\nAnd word of mouth is what brought Reneisha to the Ellen DeGeneres show early last year.  It was Ellen who inspired Wilkes to do what she could to help those around her and it was Ellen in turn who helped Reneisha do so.\n\n“I was catching four to five busses to get to my contacts and projects…I got a phone call inviting me to the show and I won Ellen’s first ‘volunteer of the month’ award…”  But Wilkes never expected to also be given a brand new car and $10,000.\n\n“She [Ellen] was always trying to give back and help people,” said Wilkes.  “I come from a family who was always looking to give, no matter what our situation is, we’re looking to better someone else’s situation.”  And now that’s what Wilkes does not only through her non-profit organization, but also through her position as Student Resource Coordinator for <a title="SJVC Rancho Cucamonga" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cucamonga/">SJVC’s Rancho Cucamonga campus</a>.\n\n“I don’t get paid for the non-profit so it works out to get paid for what I do!” said Wilkes.  Her job includes helping students with their personal life so they can focus on and do well in their education.  Reneisha’s aid with services from legal assistance to childcare to laundry detergent and groceries help students stay in school and focused so they don’t have to stress.\n\n“There was one particular student…her and her family were sleeping in the car.  When I found out, I immediately got them placed in a low income apartment and was able to help them out weekly with food,” said Wilkes.\n\nIn the last year, students under Wilkes’ encouragement have completed over 21,000 scholarships submissions and have been awarded over 116 scholarships.  23 students have been successfully placed in low income housing and Wilkes’ connections have provided donations for dairy products, Top Ramen, Cup ‘o Noodles, general grocery and gas cards and child care through a low income program.  In the last six months, students under Reneisha''s oversight have completed over 2,380 hours of community service.\n\nSJVC couldn’t be more proud of Reneisha – both as a graduate of the CMA program at the Hesperia campus and now her position at Rancho Cucamonga.\n\n“Do scholarships!” says Reneisha to all current students.  “Motivation [to do scholarships] is the biggest struggle because it take a lot just to go back to school so the extra push for scholarships is a lot but if I could pay off my tuition with scholarships – and I didn’t have a special story or anything – they can do the same thing.”\n\n\n<em>To see Reneisha at the Ellen DeGeneres show, follow the link below:</em>\n<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmhtRMSlG7Hc&amp;h=0AQE8IzvHAQEvSccYLmSKJNTaS7hB4hnQ_U0_vmgpr_KDtw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/<wbr />watch?v=mhtRMSlG7Hc</a>', 'A Student Resource Coordinator, Ellen DeGeneres and a Heart for Others', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12296-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12296, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12296-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12657, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Celia-Rabago.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-717" title="Celia Rabago" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Celia-Rabago-250x290.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="290" /></a>With a love for numbers and a desire for a quick education, <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/" target="_blank">SJVC</a>’s business administration program was a great fit for Rancho Cucamonga student Celia Rabago. After discovering that the program was quick and finding she could search for a job directly after graduation, she knew SJVC was the school for her.\n\n“I always wanted to go to college and just finish fast and start my career fast - here they offer that. It’s just 14 months and then you have your first degree. Other schools take about four years just to get your Associate’s.”\n\nRabago’s choose the <a title="Business Administration" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration/">business administration program</a> after years of watching her aunt be an accountant. She learned that business is an open field that could lead to many different places after graduation. Rabago was positive that this was the direction she wanted to head towards. \n\nAfter she began the program, she found even more things she liked. She loved the fact that the school was intimate and there were not a large amount of students in each class. This helped for on- on-one help from the instructors. The help from the instructors as well as counselors really helped Rabago, as she is the first one in her family to go to college. \n\n“It has been a positive learning experience,” states Rabago.', 'A Love For Numbers And Desire For A Quick Education', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12305-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12305, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12305-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12658, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '“It was really hard for me to get focused on my grades since I got started on the wrong path. After I was expelled was when I realized that this was horrible and I would just cry.”\n\nChristian Mendoza, a Business Administration student at <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/ontario" target="_blank">SJVC’s Rancho Cucamonga</a> campus, is a prime example of someone who turned his life around and was determined to get back on track to where he wants to be in life.\n\nAfter being expelled, he realized that he needed to move forward and wanted to go to school in order to receive the money he knew he both deserved and needed. After growing up in an unhealthy environment, he wanted this education not only for himself, but also for his mom.\n\nThe support Mendoza received from his family and girlfriend was the extra push that motivated him to start making the right choices.\n\n“I had a lot of help from my girlfriend. She motivated and told me to keep trying and work hard. She told me about SJVC and how fast paced it was and how I would be guaranteed classes, I called them and they were willing to help me.”\n\nHe felt as if this was a second chance and he was not willing to give up this time. SJVC helped him get organized and gave him different tools that aided in keeping him focused. Mendoza did his homework and studying in the lab, which helped him have more free time at home, and less to worry about.\n\nCompleting his homework is what made the biggest difference and helped his test scores increase greatly. This positive feedback gave him hope that his dream of owning his mom’s trucking business would one day come true.\n\nTo Mendoza, SJVC was one of the best things that happened to him. It helped him get his life going in the right direction. He is incredibly grateful that he was given a second chance.\n\n“If you get a second chance, make the most of it because that might be the only other chance you get,” stated Christian Mendoza.', 'A Second Chance', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12307-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12307, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12307-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12659, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LAB_Field_Trip_Aquas_1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-164" title="LAB_Field_Trip_Aquas_[1]" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/LAB_Field_Trip_Aquas_1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Senior <a title="Dental Hygiene" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/dental-hygiene/">Dental Hygiene</a> students from SJVC’s <a title="SJVC Rancho Cucamonga" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cucamonga/">Rancho Cucamonga</a> campus had a firsthand look of how digital technology is enhancing restorative dentistry.\n\nGuided by  Precision Ceramics Dental Laboratory’s VP and co-owner, Mark Jackson RDT, SJVC students were impressed by the facility’s innovation in fabricating precise restorations through digital impressions, CAD/CAM lasers, and cone-beam computerized tomography (CT scans guiding dentists’ precise placement of dental implants).\n\nIn promoting oral health, SJVC dental hygiene students are acutely aware of their role in educating patients while supporting treatment options dentists may prescribe.\n\nStudents Diana Brickley DH ’12 and Rachel Delvaux DH ’12, reported the Precision Ceramics experience “was amazing, gaining a better understanding of how advances in technology can help (dentists) make great dental restorations!”\n\n<a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> faculty, Betsy Wilson RDH, stated, “integrating knowledge of the exciting developments in dental materials technology supports the SJVC dental hygiene curriculum, so that graduates are skilled, confident, and educated oral health care professionals.”', 'Senior Dental Hygiene Students Tour State-of-the-Art Lab', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12292-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12292, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12292-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12660, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_62971.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-799" title="IMG_6297" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/IMG_62971-290x213.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="213" /></a>One of the best parts about <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> is celebrating our students: learning about their lives, their journey to education and the things that keep them going. We are proud of all our students and particularly of Rondale Stevenson, a <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/campus/Rancho_Cucamonga/" target="_blank">Rancho Cucamonga</a> student who will graduate from the Criminal Justice program on November 16.\n\n<em>Hello my name is Rondale Stevenson, I am twenty-eight years old and I am the seventh child of eleven. Yes! My mother had eleven kids, although two brothers are deceased and a few are incarcerated. I am lucky number seven; I’m the only one who has attended college - where I come from, college was not a top priority.\n\nOvercoming poverty-stricken surroundings, I became very determined to succeed. I say this because life challenges you, and you can be here one moment and gone the next or even locked up.\n\nI grew up with love: my mother is the heart beat that makes me think and sleep. She teaches me to put God first and everything will work out in due time. No matter what negativity you are surrounded by, you have to stay strong and know right from wrong! Morals played a big factor growing up in a huge family with lots of different personalities. They taught me how to interact with others and learn from the good and the bad so when I start my own family, I will be the best father ever by taking care of them.\n\nI have two beautiful girls named Sariyah and Miyah. Sariyah is six and Miyah is four years old. They both keep me motivated to wake up every morning with a smile on my face, waiting to catch the first bus of three in route to school.\n\nI came to be at SJVC through a change of careers. I was a truck driver for a short period of time, with a family of two. I quit due to the stress of being away from my family. It was very difficult for my partner, handling two little ladies by herself. Although the money was great and the scenery was so beautiful, my heart was in the right place by coming home to my family. I prayed to my Father as I was kneeling down, knowing he would show me my next path. I remember a question in my head that kept popping up but I ignored it, thinking about money and getting a job to support my family. But as I was wondering, that question was blocking my vision from looking for employment. And I couldn’t understand that. \n\nSo I got up off my knees, ignored that feeling from my head and continued to look for a job. As time went by, I found myself looking for help, guidance. I realized I needed something that would make me stay focused and active. Then that feeling came back, but instead, from my heart. I remember that question that I thought about and ignored. \n\nSchool was the answer to my prayer. \n\nBut the struggles didn’t stop there. \n\nDuring the beginning months of school things were going pretty well, but by my second mod things begin to take a turn for the worse when it came to my personal life. My home situation with my children’s mother became very stressful and ended with me moving in with my mother. My younger sister was incarcerated while pregnant with her first child. My sister delivered her baby, which my mother and I care for now. I also knew my mother was suffering from troubling health concerns. \n\nThis weighed very heavy on me and my school work. I did my best not to let my troubles distract me. While on the bus, I took time to study the material given each day because when I made it home I knew I had little time to do school work. After expressing my concerns to my family - that my grades were slipping and I was falling behind - I realized I needed outside support, so that’s when I went to my CJ advisor who was very helpful in giving me advice on what steps I needed to take in order for me to stay focused and on track. \n\nSo to those who are in the same lane that I’m in - don’t get too discouraged to catch up, go at your own fast past. No matter what subject material you are struggling in - whether its math, English, or any core class. No matter the hard decision-making dealing with your own family or core family. No matter whether it be your partner, boyfriend, or girlfriend, or somebody holding you back. So try not to be afraid to turn left or right, change lanes or even stop. Continue to go straight because at the in of the tunnel, God always has your back. \n\nI say this because, here I am a student of <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/campus/Rancho_Cucamonga/" target="_blank">SJVC</a>, almost done, waiting for my life to begin in a career in law enforcement. </em>', 'Letter from One Student to You', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12290-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:09', '2014-09-25 22:32:09', '', 12290, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12290-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12661, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SJVC-Rancho-Cordova-participates-in-Habitat-for-Humanity.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3059" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SJVC-Rancho-Cordova-participates-in-Habitat-for-Humanity-300x230.jpg" alt="SJVC Rancho Cordova participates in Habitat for Humanity" width="300" height="230" /></a>Volunteerism is an important part of the overall student experience at SJVC. Recently, six <a title="Click to learn more about SJVC''s Respiratory Therapy program." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy">Respiratory Therapy</a> students on the <a title="Click to learn more about SJVC''s Rancho Cordova campus." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova">Rancho Cordova</a> campus got to find that out first-hand.\n\nUnder the direction of Michelle Tapp, Learning Resource Center Coordinator and Amy Bianco, Dean of Student Services, these Term 4 students contributed four hours on two separate days to helping Habitat for Humanity restore and organize construction materials and supplies, as well as donated items coming into their warehouse. Habitat is an international, non-profit organization that is devoted to building "simple, decent and affordable" housing that has addressed the issues of poverty housing all over the world.\n\nThose students making the trip to Habitat for Humanity’s Sacramento site were: Robert Wallace, Joseph Castro, Curtis Echevarria, Holly Van Brocklin, Aaron Palpallatoc and Shannon Stang.\n\nAfter a brief orientation, volunteers unloaded, cleaned, organized and priced donated furniture. They also participated in selling furniture to buyers and helping them to load purchases into vehicles.\n\n"The day we arrived, they received truckloads of furniture donated by The Hilton Hotel chain," says Holly Van Brocklin. "Although we didn’t actually help build a house, knowing the work we did to contribute to the program was heartwarming."\n\nMoney from the sale of donated items helps to pay for some of the costs of building low-income housing. Recipient families and volunteers work to build each home, which takes about six months.\n\n"I am very proud of our students'' volunteer involvement," says Amy Bianco. "Most volunteer opportunities are on weekends, so our students make a sacrifice to be of service to the community."\n\nSJVC has been participating with Habitat for Humanity twice a year for about six years. Students learn what community involvement can mean to those needing assistance with their missions of goodwill, while they also learn about teamwork and the versatility of their own skills and knowledge.\n\n"We can’t wait to go back and volunteer more time to this very deserving cause," says Holly.', 'SJVC students volunteer for Habitat for Humanity', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '3058-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 3058, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/3058-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(12662, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-2400 alignleft" title="The SJVC Rancho Cordova Team" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/DSCN2414-300x168.jpg" alt="The SJVC Rancho Cordova Team" width="300" height="168" />\n\nCue the sound track for <i>Rocky </i>as twenty-two SJVC <a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> students, staff and faculty joined hundreds of other greater Sacramento residents to charge up the 612-steps of the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Sacramento for the <i>Fight for Air Climb</i> on April 12<sup>th</sup>.\n\nThere was a lot of huffing and puffing and hamstrings were on fire, as race entrants stormed their way to the rooftop of the building, the tallest in Sacramento.\n\nMichelle Tapp, Rancho Cordova’s General Ed instructor and Librarian, was the first from SJVC’s team to make it to the top. “I just wanted to beat my time from last year,” says Michelle. She came in at just under 6-minutes, bettering her 2013 time of 6.5 minutes and her 10.5 minute dash in 2012.\n\nAll of SJVC’s climbers made it to the top; some taking a little longer than others. “It was pretty lonely at the top there for awhile,” laughs Michelle. “It was great to cheer everybody and give high-fives, as they came up the stairs.”\n\nThis is the fifth year this race has been held, and the fifth year SJVC <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova</a> has participated in fundraising to benefit the American Lung Association. Since January, the campus has conducted bake sales, dress-down days and gathered private donations that collected $2,543, including race entry fees, for this worthy cause. SJVC always strives to beat previous year’s goals. This year they handily passed 2013’s total of $2,027.\n\nThis open-to-the-public event started at 8:00 AM on Saturday and ran until noon. A dozen booths were set up to provide education to the attendees about respiratory disease, prevention and treatments. SJVC’s booth demonstrated CPR and breathing treatments, along with asthma education and awareness.\n\nAmy Bianco, Dean of Student Services, is also a veteran of previous American Lung Association races. “It was really exciting to see the enthusiasm from the students,” she says. “Every year they try to beat the times from the year before. Some were slower than others, but everyone made it!”\n\nThis year got personal for Term 2 Respiratory Therapy students Zachary Zoeller and Samuel Cartacai. It seems they made a side bet that whichever of them came in last had to shave his head. Samuel beat Zach by a full two minutes.  Zach is a lot easier to spot on campus these days.\n\nAmy cites the many reasons why the Rancho Cordova campus is so eager to be a part of the “vertical road race”. “We climb for research that will cure lung disease, for those who can’t quit smoking, for lungs that burn from exercise, for asthma education to stop fatal attacks in children, and for laws that improve air quality,” she says.\n\nIn addition to the shared pleasure of helping <i>Fight for Air Climb </i>reach their fundraising goal, SJVC climbers also enjoyed their vantage point from the top of the Wells Fargo Center.\n\n“It’s a beautiful view up there,” says Michelle. “We took a few pictures before going back. We took the stairs down, though.”', 'Take the stairs, please', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12509-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12509, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12509-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12663, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '[caption id="attachment_2134" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2134 " title="James Maddox" alt="James Maddox" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/James-Maddox2-300x270.jpg" width="300" height="270" /> This Respiratory Therapy Instructor is not content to merely see his students graduate, but to see them get involved in the community.[/caption]\n\nRT instructor, James Maddox, loves to see the expressions on his students’ faces the first time they ‘get it’; that moment when they realize their lives are about to change forever.\n\n“New RT students have done a great job investigating the RT field and have a good grasp of our field of work,” says Maddox, who has taught RT classes at the <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova</a> campus for three years. “However, many are still surprised at the scope and level of our medical practice. Some have had no medical experience, and trust their due diligence and the direction of others, advising them that Respiratory Therapy is a great career choice.”\n\nJames Maddox says that is it usually by the middle of Term 1 that it starts to come together for his students and becomes very clear to them what becoming a Respiratory Therapist is all about.\n\n“At this time they know how profoundly they will be involved with patients and their families,” says Maddox. “They realize that we’re the ones who put people on life support until they get better…or take them off life support if they are not going to get better.”\n\n<a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapists</a> work in close collaboration with medical doctors and Registered Nurses to take care of patients with minor and severe respiratory illnesses or other cardiopulmonary disorders.\n\nAlthough RT students may have entered into this elite program from diverse and unrelated employment backgrounds – everything from fast food and financial services to retail sales – they quickly realize the potential for their futures to shift dramatically in this versatile and privileged career.\n\n“We change their lives and their professional demeanor,” says James. “I tell my students that they are in the process of becoming a professional RT, and I challenge them to ask themselves constantly, ‘What kind of RT am I going to be.’” Mr. Maddox plans to hold them to their decision.\n\n“I am reaching into them and grabbing whatever I have to grab to get them to their best potential to help them discover the best they can be,” he says. “They are challenged at levels they have never been challenged at before. To see them grow into that level of maturity is pretty phenomenal.”\n\nProgram success is not enough, however. James Maddox is both personally and professionally committed to helping the less fortunate. Volunteerism is not only a way of life for him; he intends for each of his students to know what he knows about the deep sense of accomplishment that comes from helping others.\n\nThe American Lung Association, Folsom Cordova Community Partnership’s annual Health Fair and the Sacramento Food Bank are among the beneficiaries of James’s philosophy and commitment. James wants his students to realize that “leadership begins with servant-hood”.\n\n“Our students have seen how they can impact other people and change lives…and it changes them,” says Maddox. “There is a noticeable difference in their tone and their sense of themselves that makes them more appreciate what they have. The SJVC system is as much about forming our students into great citizens and professionals, as it is about giving them the tools to be great Respiratory Therapists.”\n\n“Mr. Maddox has a true passion for serving others,” says Amy Bianco, Dean of Student Services. “He inspires those around him to volunteer and help individuals that are less fortunate.”\n\nJames Maddox knows about sacrifice first-hand. Going back generations, he is the first in his family to go to college. This single decision set him on a path toward greater abundance than he ever knew growing up. But, other influences were equally powerful.\n\n“Teaching is something I’ve always loved to do,” he says. A life-long Sunday school teacher, James is accustomed to touching the lives of others. “I discovered early on that I had a skill for teaching and could really cause people to think about where they were and where they wanted to be.”\n\nWith all that James gives others, he realizes that his spirit must be replenished and makes certain that there are times of restoration.\n\nHe and his wife of thirty-six years, Patty, and their children are very entrenched in their home life and “have a great fellowship of people we relax with”, says James.', 'Respiratory Therapy students in for big surprise', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12480-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12480, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12480-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12664, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '[caption id="attachment_2168" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2168" title="Seventh Grade" alt="Seventh Grade" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/rt6b-300x169.jpg" width="300" height="169" /> Two SJVC students spent a day at a middle school teaching the basics of Respiratory Therapy to curious youngsters.[/caption]\n\nEven though Holly Van Brocklin and Matt Harbawi will not graduate from their <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova</a> Respiratory Therapy program for another nine months, they know enough to captivate 150 seventh graders eager to learn about the inner workings of the body’s respiratory system.\n\nHolly and Matt spent a full day in early January at Folsom Middle School introducing five consecutive classes of teacher, Kendra Duncan’s science students, to various medical tools, equipment and treatment of respiratory illness and disease. The two SJVC <a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">RT</a> students set up lab stations to get the pre-teens up and out of their seats and engaged in the demonstrations.\n\nHolly and Matt used a PowerPoint presentation and display models to educated students about illnesses, such as asthma, pneumonia and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), as well as their medical therapies and interventions.\n\nOne station displayed various oxygen masks they might encounter in hospitals, another station showcased personal protection equipment worn when a therapist enters the room of someone in isolation due to infectious airborne disease, and a third displayed a lung model with removable components.\n\n“What was fascinating was that they all seemed very, very interested in it and had really good questions,” says Holly Van Brocklin, whose daughter, Thea, was one of the students. “Most students either had asthma or had a family member who had asthma.”\n\nHolly is the one who got the day-long event going. “The main reason I wanted to do this was to educate the kids about the importance of treating respiratory diseases and how to properly use their medication devices,” she says. “I wanted to show them, ‘Here’s what happens to your lungs if you smoke’, so that they take better care of themselves in terms of making healthy choices.”\n\nSJVC instructors encourage students to take on these kinds of community service projects and to take full advantage of opportunities to educate the public in their areas of specialty.\n\n“Matt and Holly are both wonderful students,” says Amy Bianco, Dean of Student Services. “They are very passionate about the RT program and eager to share their knowledge with the community.”\n\nHolly was invited back to Ms. Duncan’s afternoon classes the next day to help students build lung models. Balloons, straws and cups were used to simulate lungs “where we demonstrated how negative pressure works and how the lungs inflate,” says Holly. “It was great seeing how excited the kids were when they pulled down on the balloon ‘diaphragm’ and the lungs inflated.”\n\nBoth Holly and Matt are several weeks into their externships and are excited to be working in the real-world of respiratory therapy.  They both, however, still make time to inspire health consciousness within the hearts and minds of the next generation.', 'Respiratory Therapy students enthrall seventh grade classes', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12485-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12485, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12485-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12665, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '[caption id="attachment_2101" align="alignleft" width="225"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2101" title="Matthew Harbawi" alt="Matthew Harbawi" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/999566_10202412852547148_1203967902_n-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /> After a multitude of odd jobs, Matthew had finally settled on a career he would be proud of.[/caption]\n\nAsk 27-year old Matthew Harbawi what kinds of jobs he has held in his work-life and he will tell you that the list of what he has <i>not</i> done is shorter. His first job, at age fifteen, was lifeguard at a local public swimming pool, where he fished a few panicked youths out of the water. That experience was a great springboard for an array of test-careers that followed.\n\nMatthew has been in sales, transportation, customer service, a cable TV retention specialist (“lots of people yelling at me”), bank teller, waiter, cook, dock worker, box packer, caregiver, and he even sold men’s suits at Macy’s. He does not see this checkered work history as a disadvantage, however.\n\n“The fact that I’ve done so many types of jobs has shown me what I’m good at, what my weaknesses are and what I really want to do,” says Matthew. “I’m not like those people in career limbo. I do not have the questions of, ‘Can I do this? How will I do this? Will I be good at this?’”\n\nHe will also tell you that the most important job he has ever had is the one he is doing right now. Matthew lives with and cares for his Uncle Chris, who has cancer and who is also struggling with the effects of a second long-term illness. Matthew and a couple of other family members help his uncle with his ongoing needs, including doctor visits.\n\nIn fact, it was his uncle’s illness that motivated Matt to enroll in SJVC’s Respiratory Therapy program in <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova</a>. Although respiratory therapy has no connection to his uncle’s conditions, Matthew came to realize that sense of satisfaction you get helping someone struggling with health issues.\n\n“I’ve been doing this long enough that it motivated me to get in to the medical field,” says Matthew. “When it comes to your life, health is very important, and I want to make a difference in people’s health.”\n\nMatthew knew during his first month of <a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">RT</a> classes that he was in the right place. “I knew right away that A) I could do this and B) this is where I belong.”\n\nLooking back over the last 9-months of the program, Matthew admits to feeling pretty overwhelmed by all of the information that had to be memorized. The bond among students in the program helped to balance that stress with the comfort, trust and teamwork he found in the classroom.\n\n“We spend more time with each other than our own families, and we’ve become a sort of second family to each other,” says Matt. “There have been so many of those good moments of just red-faced cracking up, laughing so hard it makes you cry.”\n\nMatthew has just slipped under his many months of a steady 4.0 GPA, and still finds time to volunteer for Autism Speaks and Habitat for Humanity. He received an Honorable Mention in a nationwide essay contest for Mesothelioma, for which he was given an award. This year he plans to compete once again.\n\n“Matt’s participation in this contest helped to raise awareness of mesothelioma, while also helping to defray some of his education costs,” says Nancy Meredith, Scholarship Coordinator.\n\nMatthew knows he is where he should be and credits his uncle Chris as his inspiration to be here.\n\n“He helped raise me, and when he was first diagnosed with cancer he basically said to me, ‘You’ve done a lot of things, but you haven’t done much,’” says Matt. “He said, ‘I want you to do something with your life.’” Matthew took his uncle’s message to heart.\n\n“So that’s what I’m doing. Something. It sounds simple, but it was a nice way of putting boot to rear,” says Matt.\n\nThat ‘something’ carries him forward. “I just kind of take it one day, one semester at a time,” says Matthew, who plans to continue his education as his career evolves. “Someone said, ‘when you stop learning, you stop living’.” He hears Chris’s words, “Just do your best.”\n\nMatt’s uncle Chris’s influence is felt on an even deeper level. “I just try and enjoy every moment that I’m given and realize that it can all be taken away at any time,” says Matt. “If I can’t enjoy the small things in life, then what am I doing here.”\n\nWhen asked if there is something he would like to say to his Uncle Chris who so inspires him, Matt says, “Nothing I haven’t told him already and nothing I don’t tell him every day.”\n\nTake a moment to follow Matthew’s lead if there is someone in your life who gives you that kind of support and love.', 'Jack of all Trades makes Respiratory Therapy career commitment', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12474-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12474, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12474-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12666, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '[caption id="attachment_1656" align="alignleft" width="280"]<img class=" wp-image-1656 " style="border: 1px solid black; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px;" title="SJVC Rancho Cordova PFT Carnival " alt="SJVC Rancho Cordova PFT Carnival " src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/R-COR-Carnival-Fair-RESIZED.jpg" width="280" height="210" /> The term 4 students'' ideas were...unorthodox, but far from unappreciated.[/caption]\n\nTerm 4 <a title="Respiratory  Therapy Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> students on the Rancho Cordova campus are “competitive little buggers,” says Victoria Florentine, RT instructor. That competitive spirit went over the top when they were challenged to come up with a creative way to teach the Pediatric Pulmonary Function Testing (PPFT) to Term 3 RT students.\n\nTerm 4 students wanted to do a good job of testing Term 3 students; but they really wanted to do it better and more creatively than the last Term 4 class.\n\nSo…things got a little crazy.\n\nInstead of a more traditional approach to quizzing those RT students just behind them, Term 4 students cleared the deck – or parking lot as it turned out – to create a circus-themed test extravaganza. Decorated game-of-chance booths were set up where Term 3 students could win tickets for prizes when they gave the correct answers to PPFT questions. And, the prizes were in high demand.\n\nA ticket might win students cotton candy, or some other treat. However, the longest line of students was by far waiting for the Dunk Tank. Staff and faculty got wet – and stayed wet – most of the afternoon.\n\nLet’s just say that Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Maddox and Mrs. Tweed didn’t have to worry about the summer heat.\n\nIn all the fun, some serious education was taking place for those Term 3 students, while Term 4 students, who will soon graduate, were getting to step into the shoes of their instructors.\n\n“The highest goal in education is when the student is the teacher,” offers Victoria Florentine. “It’s when the most learning takes place.”\n\nStudents from other classes on the <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova Campus " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova</a> campus got to enjoy the fun, as well. They bought tickets to sample the food fare and try their aim at sinking a staffer.\n\nTerm 4 RT students selected the Autism Foundation to receive the money raised from the Aug. 1st PPFT event.\n\n“Instructors and I are already starting to dream big about how we can parlay this event into something even bigger,” says Florentine. “Maybe we can expand this great idea into a community event that benefits a cause even more.”\n\nTerm 4 Respiratory Therapy students should be very proud of what they have set in motion.', 'Competitive spirit drives Term 4 Respiratory Therapy students', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12420-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12420, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12420-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12667, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<img class="alignleft  wp-image-1509" style="margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; border: black 1px solid;" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Dario-Bobadillo-Scholarship-Picture-RESIZED.jpg" alt="SJVC Student Dario Bobadillo" width="162" height="245" />\n\nLess than 3-months away from graduating from <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova Campus" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova’s </a>RT program, Dario Bobadilla manages to maintain a 3.36 GPA while volunteering for and supporting such community organizations and events as The American Lung Association, Cystic Fibrosis foundation, Down Syndrome Information Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, various health walks and health fairs and the YMCA.\n\nDario’s program externship puts him in front of patients every week, many suffering from the effects of cardio-pulmonary disease. His desire to make his life’s work helping others breathe a little easier combined with his involvement in the community made him an ideal choice for the Society of Respiratory Care’s Breathe California Scholarship.\n\nThe $1,000 scholarship is an award that recognizes the recipient’s leadership qualities, advocacy for clean air and promotion of public health in local communities. Rancho Cordova Campus Dean of Student Services, Amy Bianco, helped Dario complete his scholarship application and was among the first to hear the good news. “I was excited when I found out that Dario was the recipient of this scholarship,” says Bianco. “He is a very dedicated student and this award is well deserved! Dario shows great passion for his chosen field and will be an amazing <a title="Respiratory Therapy Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapist</a>!”\n\nDario traveled to San Diego on May 7th to receive his Breathe California Scholarship award. Dario’s wife Danielle and their children Jasmine, Trinity and Noah were so proud of his accomplishment. "There are two things you can control in life, your attitude and your effort; and this scholarship was a perfect example of that,” says Dario.\n\nThree-year old Noah was born with Down Syndrome and a hole in his heart.\n\n“Noah gave me the passion to be in the medical field in a way that allows me to understand and be a part of his world,” says Dario.\n\nThe Society of Respiratory Care’s scholarship will be an impressive addition to Dario’s resume and further boost his desirability to prospective employers.', 'Respiratory Therapy student wins CA scholarship', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12405-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12405, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12405-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12668, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<img class="alignleft  wp-image-1472" style="margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; border: black 1px solid;" title="SJVC Respiratory Therapy Student Dario Bobadillo " src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Dario-Bobadillo-RESIZED.jpg" alt="SJVC Respiratory Therapy Student Dario Bobadillo " width="280" height="210" />Dario Bobadilla knows rough road when he sees it. And three years ago life for Dario, his wife Danielle and their daughters Jasmine and Trinity was about to get bumpy. Their son Noah was born with Down Syndrome and a hole in his heart.\n\n“Everything kind of changed when our son was born,” says Dario. A month in NICU and constant doctors’ visits meant that someone had to be home and with Noah at all times. “Life threw us a curve ball,” says Dario. But that pitch only tightened their game.\n\nHaving worked as a Health Benefits Administrator and Fire Dept. EMS (EMT certified), Dario was already interested in the medical field. Noah’s medical and therapy needs gave Dario the push to go deeper. “Noah gave me the passion to be in the medical field in a way that allows me to better understand and be a part of his world,” he says. Dario enrolled in <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova Campus " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova’s </a><a title="Respiratory Therapy Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy program </a>when Noah was about 2-1/2 years old. “It touches me that I’ll be working in a field of cardio-pulmonary disease that affects his condition.”\n\nThe Bobadillas approach everything as a couple. “Danielle and I always try to look at the big picture,” says Dario. “We don’t have a lot right now and we budget to the last penny,” says Dario. “But we knew what we were going into.” They also knew the kind of partnership they could count on. “I honestly could not go to school and raise a family full-time without her,” says Dario. “Danielle is my biggest supporter and my best friend and without our team this could not be possible. Everyone in our family is part of our team, no one more important than the other.”\n\nSometimes it is almost too much. “Whenever we start feeling sorry for ourselves we always remember that there are others who have it worse than we do,” says Dario. “It could always be worse. Then, we just get up and do whatever it takes.”\n\nNow Dario is enjoying his externship two days a week at a local hospital. “My mouth is shut, my eyes are open and I am ready to learn,” he says. Dario started his real-world experience with the thought that “This is an 18-month interview,” he says. “My hope is that, when they are ready to hire, they will remember what I brought.”\n\nAs always, Dario has a plan after graduation: Get a job in the medical field; hone his skills as a therapist for 6-12 months; get into pediatrics or NICU. Five-years out: Become a Physician Assistant and work in Pediatrics or in an ER trauma center.\n\nNoah makes this future both plausible and personal for Dario. “Noah is showing so much promise – and he doesn’t like to fail,” says Dario. “He has rubbed off on us and made us kick it up a notch.”', 'Family’s strength makes everything possible', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12399-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12399, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12399-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12669, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/GABI.png"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1171" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/GABI-268x290.png" alt="GABI" width="268" height="290" /></a>"As a Christian, my inspiration to take care of others comes from God," says Adina Gabriela Martis, who is about to graduate from the <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">Respiratory Therapy </a>program in <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/">Rancho Cordova</a>. And, with her family''s loving encouragement and her own personal commitment to "help others feel better", she is well on her way to a life of service in the medical field.\n\nWhen Gabi (as most people call her) first started the RT program she was surprised at the many aspects of Respiratory Therapy and at how many people were affected. This meant she would have patients of all ages, backgrounds and life experiences to work with. "I didn''t realize how many lives I could help," says Gabi. Once she got into specialty treatment therapies, she found a particular area of interest. "I love the cardio-pulmonary area; heart and lungs are such a vital part of our lives," she says.\n\nThroughout her training in this intensive 18-month program, her husband, Emanuel''s voice, along with those of her parents, Ben and Rodica, echoed encouragement. "My husband kept telling me, ''Never give up; you''re smart, you can do it,''" says Gabi. "And, my parents kept saying, ''Get a good education and follow your dream.''" She listened very intently.\n\nOne of the best moments in Gabi''s training came when she was in clinical rotation in an intensive care unit. She was trying to comfort a man who was clearly in distress, but unable to communicate his discomfort because he was intubated (tube inserted down his throat). She remembered her non-verbal communication training of asking yes and no questions to which the patient was asked to blink once for ''yes'' and twice for ''no''. When she realized that he was trying to tell her he was thirsty, she repeatedly dampened his palate with a cool, moist sponge until his parched throat was relieved.\n\nGabi spends a lot of her scant free time volunteering at hospitals and elder care facilities. She currently volunteers in the Cardiac Telemetry Unit at Mercy San Juan Hospital and the Norris Villa retirement facility, where she brings comfort to grateful residents by doing their nails or just talking with them about whatever interests them.\n\nGabi knows that she is in the right profession, but wants to immerse herself even deeper. "Respiratory Therapy will make me happy, but I also want to go back to school and get my Bachelor''s," she says. "There is a large Spanish population here, so I''d also like to become proficient in Spanish," says Gabi, who has already had 4-years of Spanish language classes.\n\nWith graduation coming in just a couple of months Gabi has a word of advice for those struggling to complete their program at <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>: "Just keep at it. Hard work and dedication always pays off. And, just remember that tough situations always make us come out stronger."', 'Strong Faith Moves Student to Help Others in Medical Field', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12375-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12375, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12375-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12670, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AAAAA.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1108" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/AAAAA-290x290.jpg" alt="OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA" width="290" height="290" /></a>Twenty-eight fourth-term <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">Respiratory Therapy</a> students and two faculty members from the <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/">Rancho Cordova</a> campus visited Sacramento Hyperbarics, a privately-owned hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) clinic recently. They were treated to an overview of the history of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, learned about the various diseases and injuries whose treatment benefits from HBOT, as well as reimbursement strategies.\n\nTwo patients consented to being observed by the students during their treatment sessions. Another patient volunteered to speak to the students about his personal experience with HBOT.\n\nThe students were then introduced to George Visger, a former member of the San Francisco 49’ers and Super Bowl winner. George is a biologist and advocate for Traumatic Brain Injury. Because of the multiple brain injuries he sustained over the course of his football career, George underwent extensive treatments with HBOT, which greatly aided his recovery. He now travels around the country, speaking to various medical groups and others, in an effort to raise awareness of the benefits of HBOT for the treatment of traumatic brain injury. George spoke to the students at length, which made the field trip event more memorable for everyone.\n\nWe are grateful for the generous welcome we received from Sacramento Hyperbarics and their patients. We look forward to visiting them again with future cohorts.', 'Field Trip To Sacramento Hyperbarics', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12367-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12367, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12367-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12671, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Joel-Rabara.jpeg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-628" title="Joel Rabara" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Joel-Rabara-290x290.jpeg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>Joel Rabara always knew he would go to college. It was an expectation his parents held without compromise. It wasn’t until he went with his family to visit his mother’s siblings in the Philippines that he realized why.\n\nHer relatives lived in poverty in 20’x20’ tarp-covered shelters with only a flickering black and white TV for entertainment. The contrast to Joel’s life was great and the reason for the division quickly understood: education. His mother worked hard for a nursing degree before coming to the U.S. and no less was expected of him and his sister.\n\nHis commitment to education has never wavered. Even when his family faced foreclosure of their home and his mother, Estela, was forced into early retirement after 30-years as an RN, he worked weekends throughout his <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">Respiratory Therapy</a> (RT) program in Rancho Cordova to help out financially. He admits that it was difficult to attend classes – an hour away – and keep up his 3.9 GPA, while working every weekend, but he persevered.\n\n“I know that helping family isn’t really a bragging point, since everybody helps their families, but it really took a toll on my being able to focus on education and juggle extracurricular activities,” says Joel. Those extracurricular activities included devoting every Friday to tutoring other RT students struggling with the rigors of the program.\n\nThroughout Joel’s 18-month RT program he demonstrated extraordinary leadership skills. He undertook many volunteer projects both on and off campus. He chaired and organized from start to finish <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/">SJVC</a>’s Children’s Pulmonary Function Testing exhibition, which was open to the entire campus and for which he was recognized. Joel also hosted a canned food drive on campus in conjunction with the Sacramento Food Bank over a 2-month period that filled four barrels of non-perishable food.\n\nMost recently he organized over 30-student volunteers to work with the Food Bank and a local church to package, display and distribute food to needy families. There is a long list of organizations that benefit from his passion and dedication.\n\nJoel Rabara is the kind of person who isn’t content with just his own success. Whether coaching fellow students, giving community outreach a dependable leader or helping a neighbor in need, he is determined to take as many people with him into that realm as he can.\n\n“Your word is more credible the more education and experience you have,” says Joel, who has plans to push his industry further through his own research and publication. “I want to put my name out there,” he says. We will be looking for it.', 'College Was Not An Option For Rancho Cordova Student', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12342-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12342, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12342-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12672, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/vent.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-223" title="vent" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/vent-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>[Press Release]\n\n<a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/">Rancho Cordova</a>, CA – Machines better known for helping people in hospital intensive care units breathe easier will be hitting the road April 21 in an event sponsored by Respiratory Therapy students from San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) to raise money for local lung health issues.\n\nThe college’s first-time Ventilator 5K race will kick off at 9:00 am at the <a href="http://g.co/maps/9q8j3">Village</a><a href="http://g.co/maps/9q8j3">Green</a><a href="http://g.co/maps/9q8j3">Amphitheater</a>, 3141 Bridgeway Dr., Rancho Cordova, CA, with more than 5-teams that have each raised at least $500 in pledges. “The objective is to push the ventilator five kilometers,” says Bruce Dearing, SJVC’s Respiratory Therapy Program Assessment Coordinator. “Each team consists of a crew chief and pit crew, which will take turns pushing the ventilator.” Teams will decorate their rolling, 5-legged and approximately 3-4 ft. tall and 40-50 lb. ventilator, to reflect a theme they select, such as The Muppets, Wizard of Oz and Star Wars. Prizes will be awarded for 1<sup>st</sup>, 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> place finish, as well as best costume design.\n\nSpearheaded by the American Respiratory Care Foundation (ARCF), the Ventilator 5K was officially launched in 2006 at the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) International Respiratory Congress in Las Vegas, NV. The Rancho Cordova event is one of hundreds that will be taking place all across the country over the course of the year. The unique feature of the Rancho Cordova event is that will include respiratory health education and a general health fair.\n\n“The goal is to give respiratory therapists and students a fun and productive way to raise funds that can then be applied to lung health concerns in their own communities,” says Michael T. Amato, BS, chair of the ARCF Board of Trustees.\n\n“Mechanical ventilators literally breathe life back into people who cannot breathe on their own. So we thought, what better machine to use in a fundraising event aimed at breathing new life into important projects to improve lung health right here in Rancho Cordova,” says Bruce Dearing.\n\nMr. Dearing says funds raised by the Rancho Cordova event will go to support Folsom Cordova Community Partnership, a local non-profit organization that works to enhance the education, health, and well being of the children, youth, and adults of our community.\n\nThe ARCF is tracking the events nationwide and will be awarding points for the most creatively decorated ventilator, best 5K course, most money raised, and other factors. Awards will be presented at the upcoming AARC International Respiratory Congress in San Antonio, TX, this December.\n\nThe American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) is a not-for-profit, professional organization, consisting of more than 47,000 respiratory therapists, physicians, and other health care professionals. AARC is dedicated to assisting persons with respiratory diseases receive safe and effective respiratory care.\n\nRespiratory Therapists (RTs) are specially trained and licensed respiratory health care professionals assisting physicians in diagnosis, treatment and management of respiratory diseases. RTs provide care in hospitals, outpatient centers, physicians’ offices, skilled nursing facilities and patients’ homes.\n\nSan Joaquin Valley College’s Respiratory Therapy (RT) program is 18-months of hands-on education and career training, which prepares students to be job-ready in a competitive industry. Graduates earn an Associate of Science degree and are eligible for state licensure and national credentialing examinations, including the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentials.\n\nFor participation information or how you can donate, please contact Bruce Dearing, RT Program Instructor-San Joaquin Valley College at (916) 638-7582.\n\n&nbsp;', '“Breathing Matters” 5K Vent Race and Health Fair: Respiratory Therapists Breathe Life into Local Lung Health Needs', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12298-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12298, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12298-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12673, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '[caption id="attachment_80" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC0308.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-80" title="_DSC0308" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC0308-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a> Cordova students pose in their professional attire.[/caption]\n\nStudents and graduates of the <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">Respiratory Therapy Program</a> on the <a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova</a> Campus received a unique Career Day experience.  The day was filled with tips to help graduates and current students fine-tune their career professional skills.  Alumni had an opportunity to meet and network with the hiring managers of several local hospitals and current students had the opportunity to practice the career skills they are developing while attending <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC.</a>\n\nDuring registration, students were greeted by the Respiratory Therapy Department Manager for University of California Davis Medical Center, Patricia Brown, RCP, BA.  Brown later provided a plethora of information for our eager students regarding seeking employment with the prestigious organization and tips to help them interview well.  She welcomed and answered as many questions as the students had, helping to resolve the typical faux pas of interviewing and resume writing.\n\nStudents also had an opportunity to hear from successful SJVC Alumni who are doing well in the field.  Alumni shared their successes and failures that they have experienced along their journey which provided inspiration and motivation for our students to continue working towards the goals they have set for themselves as future Respiratory Therapists!\n\nDuring our breakout session, students had the opportunity to be critiqued by hiring managers from various hospitals and career programs such as Sutter Roseville, Fremont Rideout, Mercy Folsom and SETA.  Students performed mock interviews and were given feedback and tips on their personal resumes,  internet job searching, and interview attire.\n\nThe afternoon session was conducted by Nadien Menke, RRT, RCP of Sutter Roseville.  Her PowerPoint presentation on interviewing was very informative and opened the eyes of many of our students to improve their interviewing skills.\n\nEnding the day with raffles and prizes, students and graduates alike were pleased with the wealth of knowledge they received at the Career Day and look forward to the next one!', 'Career Day at Rancho Cordova', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12274-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12274, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12274-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12674, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Cordova-Hunt-Blumeyer-2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-804" title="Cordova - Hunt Blumeyer (2)" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Cordova-Hunt-Blumeyer-2-290x213.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="213" /></a>Flying helicopters and guiding white water rafting tours is not the usual resume for a respiratory therapy student – however, <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/campus/Rancho_Cordova/" data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank">Rancho Cordova</a> student Hunt Blumeyer is making it a smooth transition.\n\n“I was looking at getting into Emergency Medical Services as a pilot but it could take me anywhere from 3 to 5 years before I was actually working in this area,” said Blumeyer.\n\nConcerned also with a family friendly-schedule, the week on, week off nature of the job would have taken him away from his family.\n\n“I’ll miss flying but I’m home every night with my wife and that’s where I need to be right now,” Blumeyer explains.\n\nBecause SJVC allowed Blumeyer to start immediately and integrated pre-requisites with core classes, it was the perfect fit.\n\n“I didn’t want to wait at all,” said Blumeyer. “I wanted to get in and get started. <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> could do all my pre-reqs, get everything done and get me in and out of here in 18 months.”\n\nFor Blumeyer, this was a non-negotiable but he also recognizes the program requires a big commitment both on his part and the part of those supporting him. He says SJVC is strict in a good way – the fast-paced nature of the education encourages focus and attendance.\n\n“The reason is that it is an accelerated course and it is moving fast and you need to keep up. If you get behind I think you’d be in trouble,” Blumeyer states.\n\nAlthough going back to school was initially difficult, Blumeyer has enjoyed learning respiratory therapy. The very social nature of the job is one of the many parts Blumeyer loves – and combined with the constant learning the RT program provides, he is well on his way to graduation.\n\nBlumeyer is no longer landing helicopters or navigating his way through rocks and rushing rapids. He is, however, making strides to a different sort of adrenaline-pumping, social job – saving the lives of the people around him. And for an individual well-accustomed to extreme situations, it is a smooth transition.', 'From Helicopters to Hospitals: A Rancho Cordova Student''s Journey', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12291-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:58', '2014-09-25 22:32:58', '', 12291, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12291-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(12675, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:59', '2014-09-25 22:32:59', '[caption id="attachment_26" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Cordova-Marina-Zaboytny1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-26" title="Cordova Marina Zaboytny" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Cordova-Marina-Zaboytny1-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" /></a> Marina in her SJVC uniform.[/caption]\n\nIt was just another summer pool party for<a title="SJVC Rancho Cordova" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cordova/"> Rancho Cordova </a>Respiratory Therapy student Marina Zaboltny.\n\nAfter a long day of finals at <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC,</a> Marina, her daughter and a few other mothers and kids were enjoying a relaxing pool party – swimming, snacking and enjoying the calm of a summer afternoon.  It had been an enjoyable day that was just wrapping up when calm turned into chaos.\n\nOne of the mothers came running into the house with a little boy.\n\n“He was completely blue, cyanotic and his eyes were rolled up – he was not responsive to anything,” said Marina.  “There was chaos and everything everybody was screaming and there were kids and we sent them to the other room and they were screaming too.”\n\nThere was a pause where Marina drew a deep breath and steadied her hands – “It makes me anxious just thinking about it.”\n\nOne of the girls started doing CPR “but I saw that she wasn’t doing it correctly,” said Marina.  “I was like, ‘Okay, I’m going to do it.’”  As a <a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">respiratory therapy</a> student at SJVC in her third term, this was the first real life scenario Marina encountered since beginning her program.\n\n“I was like ‘This is my responsibility’ – you kind of freeze in that moment and you’re like ‘Wow, it’s my turn, it’s my time right now.’  I started doing CPR on him and gave him some breaths and he started coming back to life…that feeling when you see his lips turn pink and they were blue, blue blue…when I saw that we just started crying.”\n\nMarina had told this story a few times and she said she often cries in the retelling.  “Anyone would do it,” she said.  “You learn all the steps [in school], how to do it, everything, you know it but it’s just so different in a real life situation – you step back and it’s a great feeling that you know what to do.  It’s not like ‘Oh my gosh, do I do this?  Do I do this?  Do I push harder?  Do I push slower?’  No.  It’s knowing what to do.”\n\nAs the only person in the healthcare field in attendance that day, Marina felt the pressure of the task but also the joy in knowing she was able and trained to help.\n\nFrom the start of her school, Marina knew she wanted to go into the healthcare field and help people.  After waiting for two years to get into school to be a Registered Nurse, Marina started researching other related fields.\n\n“I want to have a career, not just a job,” she said.  “I want my family – my child – to be proud of me that I’m helping other people.  Just getting an education is really important to me – getting a career, getting something stable I can rely on.”\n\nBut for Marina, helping people was not something that had to wait until her graduation in March.  Rather, she was able to put her skills to test and prove successful just this summer.  It was confirmation for Marina that she is in the right vocational field.\n\n“After…I just kind of stepped back and thought about it, how amazing it is just to see the reaction of a person come back to life and that you’re able to help them.  It was just CPR but being in school in the healthcare field – it just makes you think there’s a lot of other things you can do with your education to help people in that field.”', 'Rancho Cordova RT Student Saves a Life', 'In the midst of what seemed to be just another summer pool party, Rancho Cordova Respiratory Therapy student Marina Zaboltny was able to put her education into practice to save the life a little boy.', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12268-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:59', '2014-09-25 22:32:59', '', 12268, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12268-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12676, 4, '2014-09-25 15:32:59', '2014-09-25 22:32:59', '<em><a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/AAAAAA-Cordova-Kayleen-Pilimai.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-853" title="AAAAAA Cordova - Kayleen Pilimai" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/AAAAAA-Cordova-Kayleen-Pilimai-290x213.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="213" /></a>Kayleen Pilimai, a <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/campus/Rancho_Cordova/" target="_blank">Rancho Cordova Respiratory Therapy student</a>, has been in her program almost exactly a year now. As part of the 18-month program, reaching the year mark feels pretty good. In her words, "Everything''s just coming down and coming together - it''s exciting and a little scary."</em>\n\nOur one-man <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC </a>spotlight team zeroed in on Kayleen this week to find out what life is like as a wife, returning student, mother of two and balancing act extraordinaire.\n\n<em>What was it like to come back to school?</em>\n\nIt was hard to transition but because I knew I was serious about it this time it was easier for me to do better and try harder.\n\n<em>Why did you choose <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">respiratory therapy</a>?</em>\n\nOriginally when I was going to school I was going really slow because I started having kids. So I finished all my pre-req’s to go into nursing and I waited to get into the nursing program – but then I couldn’t get in and there was a two year waiting list so I just decided to look into other options. I have a friend who’s in Respiratory Therapy and he suggested SJVC and I looked it up and I decided to try it out.\n\n<em>Do you have a specific plan of where you want to be after graduation?</em>\n\n\nHopefully I get a job right away. I want to get a good years’ experience and I think I want to work in the neonatal pediatric field and then get my experience there for a couple years and definitely want to continue my education and get my bachelor’s but that’s like in the next 3 to 5 years.\n\n<em>What led you toward neonatal?</em>\n\nI’ve always liked kids since I was younger. I have two little kids of my own and I enjoy it. I think it will make me feel good helping little kids if I can. I want to get my foot in the door and see how I like it, if I can handle it and then if not I’ll just stick to adults.\n\n<em>What has been your biggest struggle in coming back to school? And how have you had to work to overcome it?</em>\n\nThe biggest struggle is just trying to balance it out and find time to study for myself. I would just say that and having a personal, family life has been a struggle. I had more time before and now I don’t have that much time. So you know trying to balance everything out is, in general, a struggle. But I’ve handled it and I’m doing it now My family understands now, and they know I’m doing it for us.\n\n<em>Tell me about your family. Husband, two kids. What are your kids’ names?</em>\n\nMy four year old, her name is Malia, she’s a girl. And then I have a one year old boy who I had probably 10 months before I started the program - so that in itself starting out was a huge challenge because I have to keep my eye on him 24/7. But he’s getting easier. He’s almost two. Then my husband does loans, so he’s supporting all of us and he’s working his butt off so that I can go to school. And when I’m done I’m planning to work my butt off too!\n\n<em>Do you have any encouragement for other people with a family who want to go back to school? </em>\n\nThe only thing is it requires a lot of dedication. And I was ready for it, so if people feel like they’re ready to do it then they should. I definitely recommend it. I was fortunate enough to; my husband said I could quit working. I know there are people that are still working and have kids and they’re trying to do it too, so if you want to do it I would say go ahead and do it. Try and get as much help as you can and get as much financial aid as you can.\n\n<em>One more question - if you had to go live in another country for a year, just you not your family, which country would you choose?</em><\n\nI would probably just go to the Philippines where I’m from, because I’m very Americanized so I don’t know a lot about my own culture. I’ve only been there once in my life and that was like when I was 23. I was born there and came here when I was one so I’d definitely go there just to gain some knowledge about my culture.\n\n<em>Do you have anything left to add that I did not ask you about?</em>\n\nThe best part about this <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/campus/Rancho_Cordova/" target="_blank">program</a> is the clinicals I think. Being in the clinicals and being in the field, hands on, that’s where I’ve learned the most. And you know for me it’s been the most fun because we get to actually see patients. We get to do what we’re going to do and get some experience there.\n\n<em>After graduation, Kayleen and her husband are planning to take a trip they won to Hawaii. An appropriate reward for all their hard work? We (I) think so. Way to go, Kayleen!</em>', 'Kayleen Pilimai on Being a Wife, Mother and RT Student', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12272-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:32:59', '2014-09-25 22:32:59', '', 12272, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12272-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12677, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '<img class="alignleft wp-image-3069 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SJVC-Business-Administration-student-Elias-Campos-300x178.jpg" alt="SJVC Business Administration student Elias Campos" width="300" height="178" />Twenty-three year old Elias Campos is a <a title="Click to learn more about SJVC''s Business Administration program." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration">Business Administration</a> student on the <a title="Click to learn more about SJVC''s Temecula campus." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula">Temecula campus</a> who will graduate next month. When he leaves SJVC, he will have left an indelible mark on many lives.\n\nElias comes from a humble background. His parents, Elias and Maria Soledad, had very little formal education because they both had left school early to help support their families. Elias senior''s mother taught him to read and write and Maria spent her youth helping care for her siblings while her parents worked the fields. English lessons came from the TV.\n\nTheir hard work continues so that their six children can have the chance for something better. With three kids in college, "We all have to work," says Elias. His dad does landscaping, irrigation and harvests avocados, while his mom makes flower arrangements for a nursery. "Between the three of us, we sustain the household."\n\nThey all put their hopes on higher education. When Elias'' sister, Elizabeth enrolled in the Medical Assisting program, he decided to give SJVC a look. Although already working full-time as Youth Services Library Technician at the Temecula Public Library, Elias knew he had to get his higher education rolling.\n\n"I wanted to know what would make me the most well-rounded individual, and a background in business would make me more flexible in the job field," says Elias. That made good sense to him.\n\nElias was a sponge, soaking up every bit of knowledge about business practices. "I learned how to network with individuals on a business level," he says. Elias volunteered at the student store, and brought his newly honed skills into play.\n\n"From my Excel class, I was able to create our inventory sheet, as well as daily earnings, while I used practices of marketing through fliers," he says. "Business is doing pretty well, and I pretty much have a line waiting before I open the store." He is putting store operation and procedures together for the next person who steps in "to keep the momentum going."\n\nElias volunteers at Orientation to welcome new students and help them feel more comfortable with what they are about to undertake. "It''s fun to go to orientation and see what they expect," says Elias. "They look scared and intimated, and I probably looked the same," he laughs.\n\n"Elias is one of the most welcoming people I have ever met," says John Hall, Dean of Student Services. "At orientation he helps students come out of their comfort zones and encourages their interaction and excitement for starting their college career."\n\nElias'' sharp mind and helpful nature have earned him many awards: Notable Newbie, Inspirational Involvement, Ambassador Award and Dean''s List. "Hearing my name called for the Inspirational Involvement Award was really nice because it meant Mr. Hall saw something in me. I thought, ''you know, you can probably do more.''\n\n"I can’t wait to see what Elias does in business," says Mr. Hall. "Whatever he starts, people will want to be a part of it."\n\nIt is difficult to imagine how Elias might do more. In addition to his full-time position at the library – including Saturdays, where he conducts school tours, helps children pick grade appropriate books to read and oversees events –he also works with his dad and mom each Sunday in the lavender fields to earn extra money. Elias doesn''t get to study until after 9:00 most nights.\n\n"There are times when I am just too tired to do homework and think I will do it tomorrow," says Elias. "Dad says, ''If it can be done today, then you should do it today.''" His father''s words bear strong influence, and his mother''s steady motivation pushes him forward. His girlfriend, Brenda, has been with him since the beginning and has also been strong motivation for him.\n\n"The reason I try so hard is that I will be the first in our generation to graduate from college." Elias plans to go further. "I want to see if I can continue and get my BA and, hopefully, a Masters in Library Science."\n\nElias has dreams of helping his dad start his own landscaping business, "so that he is his own boss."\n\n"I look back on my parents, who made the best of the opportunities they were given," says Elias. "By continuing to the highest, I want to give them a big ''thank you'' and show my family we can keep moving forward. We can say, ''look at us now.''\n\nThere will, undoubtedly, be an appreciative audience.', 'Temecula Business student is the guy to watch', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '3068-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '', 3068, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/3068-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12678, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SJVC-Pharmacy-Tech-student-Lauren-Enriquez.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3055" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SJVC-Pharmacy-Tech-student-Lauren-Enriquez-300x136.jpg" alt="SJVC Pharmacy Tech student Lauren Enriquez" width="300" height="136" /></a>"This is the career I never knew I wanted," says <a title="Click to learn more about SJVC''s Pharmacy Technology program." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology" target="_blank">Pharmacy Technology</a> student, Lauren Enriquez, who spent several years working at popular SoCal theme parks and, more recently, Starbucks.\n\nAt twenty-three, Lauren was not happy where she was, but didn’t feel that the college experience would work very well for her either. "I did community college, and it wasn’t a good fit," she says. "But, it didn’t have the guidance SJVC offers me."\n\nA girlfriend had started SJVC’s Pharmacy Tech (PT) program in <a title="Click to learn more about SJVC''s Temecula campus." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank">Temecula</a>, and Lauren thought it sounded like fun. "I had thought about a career in medicine, but I’m kind of squeamish and not really good about blood and guts and stuff," she says.\n\nThe PT program would give her the industry she wanted without the queasy bits.\n\n"I got a phone call not 10 minutes after I requested more information online; and it’s probably the best call I ever accepted," says Lauren. "It was 48 hours from website to ringing the bell (new student enrollment bell) on campus."\n\nIt was a great start, but Lauren had plenty of apprehension about school. "Oh my god, what if I hate it or mess this up," she worried.\n\nShe was reassured by the small class size and the amount of one-on-one attention instructors provide. "They have hands-on experience themselves, so know what’s relevant to us in our career field," says Lauren. "Like they tell new students in orientation, ''No one will let you drown.''"\n\nLauren did not drown. She barely had to hold her breath.\n\n"Honestly, a lot of it came really easy for me," she says. Lauren blossomed under all the support she got at school and at home from her husband, Chris. She locked into a consistent 4.0 GPA and threw herself into SJVC volunteer work.\n\n"I was thinking that this is the only chance at college I’m going to get, so I want to have good memories of involvement," says Lauren. "I just want to help my campus and inspire others to get involved too."\n\nLauren is President of HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) and a member of all clubs on campus, including ASB and Diversity Club. She is a frequent organizer of community events such as Light the Night Walk and Relay for Life, which earned her the Student Ambassador Award and Inspirational Involvement Award.\n\n"Lauren is a leader on and off campus, daily making a difference for her fellow students and her community," says John Hall, Dean of Student Services. "I can’t wait to see where her drive and determination bring her next!"\n\nA couple of months ago, Lauren’s strong academic performance and volunteer standing were suddenly at risk. Chris lost his job and Lauren’s focus and finances dwindled. "There was no way my husband would ever let me drop out," so they hunkered down, spent money on the bare necessities, and Lauren resisted the urge to go back to work. Chris just recently landed another position, so some hard choices were averted.\n\n"I cannot wait to repay him for time I’ve spent mooching," laughs Lauren, who graduates in January.\n\nLauren would like to go to work for a hospital or compounding pharmacy where she would customize IV bags with specific medications. "I think it’s a fun and interesting process," she says.\n\nShe would also like to continue her education to get her BA degree in biology before going on to Pharmacy school. "I’d like to be that kind of pharmacist that can actually jump in and help out PTs, and know where they’re coming from," she says.\n\nHer greatest inspiration to complete her program has been her husband and the better life they can share. Currently living with her in-laws, Lauren and Chris want, like any couple, to get out on their own. "We want to live the way we like, stay close to family…not too close, though," Lauren teases.\n\nLauren and Chris like to spend time together, often teaming up on video games. "We’re not very competitive and usually do different quests together," she says. "Chris is sitting on the couch, telling me he is better," she laughs.\n\nLook out world. A shared quest seems to work very well for Lauren and Chris.', 'Pharmacy Tech student shares quest for better life', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '3053-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '', 3053, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/3053-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12679, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', 'Since his teens, Greg Serrano has found something he needs in the solitary stride of a long-distance runner. That extra something that pushes him, that settles over him as the miles pile up, has served him in all aspects of his life.\n\n[caption id="attachment_2420" align="alignleft" width="229"]<img class="wp-image-2420 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee2-229x300.jpg" alt="Greg Serrano" width="229" height="300" /> Greg was a Business Administration student at SJVC Temecula when a position at the school opened up on the eve of graduation. Surely enough, Greg found himself working for the very school he studied at for his first job after graduation.[/caption]\n\nIt did not start out that way.\n\n“My cousin, Brenda, got me into cross-country running in high school,” says Greg. “At first I hated it, but I pushed through and it caught fire.”\n\nA half-dozen or so years later, Greg maintains long-distance training that includes an 8-10 mile run, 4-5 days a week and a weight training schedule that has caused others, among them his late father, Patrick, to call him crazy.\n\n“When I run I’m reminded of him and we have conversations,” says Greg, who has just started to run competitively. “Every run I do he is always by my side.”\n\nIt is in that spirit of perseverance and accomplishment that Greg to enroll in SJVC’s <a title="Business Administration program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration/" target="_blank">Business Administration</a> program at the new <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/" target="_blank">Temecula</a> campus – and which would make him part of the first graduating class. He had been working part-time at a popular pizza place and knew he had to find that runner’s push to pull away from the crowd and continue his education.\n\nOne of his main heroes is his uncle Tony who earned his Master’s Degree and is now a college instructor.\n\n“He has been a great mentor for me,” says Greg. “He talks to me about my future, what I want to do, and he leads me to the right steps.”\n\nCollege turned out to be a right step for Greg. Everyone at school could see his potential, his ease with others. He was involved in ASB and the Diversity Club. His positive energy touched many lives throughout his time on campus.\n\nA week before he was to graduate Greg learned about a First Contact position opening up at the Temecula campus’ front desk. Soon after completing the interview process, Greg found himself sitting in a new employee orientation.\n\n“I was pretty excited to come in for orientation,” says Greg. “And, every day I come to work with a smile that they gave me this opportunity.”\n\nGreg is a natural for his position at the front desk. Part of his job is to welcome all who come through the doors of the campus, make certain they connect with the right people and make everyone, especially prospective students,  feel at ease and confident about their decision to check out the school.\n\n“I like to talk with parents who are waiting while their son or daughter is meeting with an Admissions Advisor,” says Greg. “I get to hear their stories about why they want their child to go to school. It motivates me to know that there are still good parents out there encouraging their kids to get on the right track.”\n\nGreg does all he can to help new students, current students and graduates alike to stick together for everyone’s benefit. He has helped to launch the campus Alumni Association and has hosted alumni events, spoken at graduation and orientations to help students and graduates stay connected.\n\n“Greg was a leader on campus and is now growing in his level of professionalism, performing his job well and taking on additional tasks,” says Robyn Whiles, Campus Director. “He is an outstanding reflection of an SJVC grad: confident, skilled and professional.”\n\nGreg’s own personal best is about to demonstrate itself even further.\n\nHe just competed in his first marathon in March and is on track to run his next half-marathon this July. His goal is to one day break the U.S. half-marathon record of just under an hour.\n\n“Greg ran in honor of his father, and raised funds through sponsorships, which he donated to another cancer victim battling the disease,” says Whiles.\n\nWith that strong showing Greg plans to try out for the 2016 Summer Olympics to be held in Rio, Brazil. The 2020 Summer Olympics in China would make it a one-two punch for him.\n\n“I’ll just keep on going and stay motivated,” says Greg, who takes some inspiration from a song’s lyric from Lupe Fiasco’s <em>All Black Everything</em>: ‘You can never know what you could ever be, if you never try, you will never see’.', 'Going the Distance', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12513-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '', 12513, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12513-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12680, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '[caption id="attachment_2301" align="alignleft" width="225"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2301" title="Rafael Oropeza" alt="Rafael Oropeza" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/IMG_0180b-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /> Before working for SJVC, Rafael had never really considered teaching, but his students are glad he finally did.[/caption]\n\nRafael Oropeza never had a lifelong plan to become a teacher. Maybe that is why his style as an educator is so elastic, and stretches to meet the individual needs of his <a title="Business Administration program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration/" target="_blank">Business Administration</a> and General Ed students at the <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/" target="_blank">Temecula</a> campus.\n\n“I’m constantly changing my teaching style, depending on the type of students I have and their needs,” says Oropeza. “Some need a lot of structure, some more group or individual work, and others more ‘clicker’ activities, where they clicker-vote on the correct answer to a multiple choice question on the board, and we discuss them until all votes are correct.”\n\nRafael’s objective is to instill enough confidence in his students and in their own abilities, that he can step to the side and allow them to depend on their new-found problem-solving skills.\n\n“I want them to be in charge of their own learning and to have faith in themselves,” says Oropeza, who encounters a lot of students with ‘math anxiety’. “I get excited when they get the answers on their own, without me walking them through it.”\n\nWhatever his teaching style, it seems to be working very well. Students voted for Rafael to receive the <i>Apple Award </i>last September that recognized extraordinary instructor effort above and beyond already high expectations.\n\n“It is not a surprise the students respond well to Mr. O, as they refer to him around campus,” says Robyn Whiles, Campus Director. “There is not a Friday that goes by that you do not find Mr. O in the SC, tutoring math students. He continually changes classroom teaching strategies, looking for small measures of improvement. He has passion for students, strives to make a difference, and always gives the extra effort needed.”\n\nRafael is plugged into his students’ success and does all he can to help guide them in that direction. During his five-plus years on campus, he has been an ASB and SIFE advisor.\n\nIt is hard to imagine that a career in education was not on his radar until seeking a position at SJVC. He was, however, always involved in helping others while he was getting his B.A. degree at Cal State San Bernardino in 2008. Rafael volunteered with a literacy program at a local public library, helping Spanish-speaking people struggling with English.\n\n“That experience and the reward I felt helping them better themselves, gave me an interest in education,” he says.\n\nIt has been the right move for him and has brought many rewards.\n\n“There are lots of little moments that stand out,” says Rafael. “A student came up to me recently and said, ‘I just want to let you know that this is the highest grade I’ve ever gotten on a math quiz,’” he says. “It’s the little things students say that let me know it is worth it.”\n\nSometimes it is not the student’s words, but their personal transformation that shows the impact education can have on confidence levels.\n\n“There was a student I had in every Business class,” says Oropeza. “He hardly interacted with teachers or students at all; just kept to himself. By the end of it, he was totally outgoing, very funny and engaging with others and had total confidence in just being himself.”\n\nThese are the stories and life-changes that affirm Rafael’s commitment to teach.\n\n“First and foremost I want my students to be able to function professionally in the workforce,” says Rafael. “I want them to be able to think about problems and come up with logical steps to solve them. That goes for life, as well as problems at work.”\n\nRafael hopes to take his success as an educator to an even higher level.\n\n“I would like to eventually move to a Division Manager or other management role to be able to impact the program even more and contribute more to what the organization is doing for the students,” he says.\n\nRafael keeps all things in balance and perspective with words of encouragement he pulls from comedian Bill Hicks. “It’s just a ride,” Hicks says. “What it means,” says Rafael, “is that we shouldn’t sweat the small stuff, but take life as it happens and just go with it. It’s always a choice between fear and love…and what are you going to choose.”\n\nRafael makes his choices pretty clear.', 'Empowering Others Inspires a Commitment to Teaching', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12499-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '', 12499, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12499-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12681, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '[caption id="attachment_2235" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2235" title="Graduation" alt="Graduation" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WP_20140131_18_02_30_Pro-Fuse-300x169.jpg" width="300" height="169" /> For the first time in its history, Temecula''s graduating class featured HVAC-R students, graduates of a program meant to stay on the campus.[/caption]\n\nAmong January’s graduating class of 126 students, 8 held the distinction of being the first <a title="Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration/" target="_blank">Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration</a> program graduates to walk across the stage to claim their degrees.\n\n<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The 88-graduates who participated in the ceremony held at the Rancho Community Church, finalized their career training goals in front of 1,200 friends and families gathered to witness the ceremony and celebration of their education accomplishment.</span>\n\n<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">When the HVAC-R’s small class of eight students began their studies in this debut program in the fall of 2012, this moment was still a hazy vision in their mind’s eye.</span>\n\n<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">“The first day of class our group of guys looked at each other not knowing what to expect,” says Joseph Weaver, who was part of that original program and a Student Speaker at graduation. “But, standing there in cap and gown, we weren’t newbies anymore.”</span>\n\n<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Joseph was excited to address the nearly-filled room and share his story of success, as well as his pride in helping “lay the groundwork for the HVAC-R students” to follow. Joseph, who started his new job with Gilmore Refrigeration the Monday after his program’s last class, felt his hard work paid off.</span>\n\n<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">“I found a place to land right after I finished the program,” says Joseph. “Before graduation we were standing in the hallway, talking with our teachers about our jobs and what we had learned that we were already using.”</span>\n\n<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Most of his classmates worked full-time while they were in the program, and took special pride in their accomplishment.</span>\n\n<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">SJVC’s 14-month Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program is offered on several of the other campuses and was felt to be a perfect fit for the Temecula area.</span>\n\n“Our campus’s central location and climate make us ideal for guys wanting to get into this field and employers looking for technicians who can handle both commercial and residential systems and equipment,” says Anthony Melgares, HVAC-R instructor at the <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/" target="_blank">Temecula</a> campus. He emphasizes that this is a good business for females to get into, as well, as “the job doesn’t require lifting heavy equipment; that is done by equipment installers.”\n\nHVAC-R graduates left the graduation stage that night feeling the full confidence their A.S. degree and newly acquired skills and knowledge gave them.\n\n“The best part about it is they come out of it with a degree that puts them up for leadership and supervisory roles, and sets them up for advancement in this field,” says Melgares. “These students were very motivated; and they were very proud and deserved to be proud.”\n\n<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The HVAC-R program is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing on campus. Nearly 40 students are enrolled and working toward successful completion. Not surprisingly, many currently in the enrollment process were at that recent graduation ceremony and were inspired to strive for their own career in this field – and their moment on that stage.</span>', 'Temecula’s First HVAC-R class graduates', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12492-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '', 12492, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12492-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12682, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '[caption id="attachment_2199" align="alignleft" width="224"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2199" title="John Hall" alt="John Hall" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/john-hall-224x300.jpg" width="224" height="300" /> This new addition to the Temecula team set out to revitalize the ASB and get more students involved.[/caption]\n\nAt the <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/" target="_blank">Temecula</a> campus, the Associated Student Body used to be relatively quiet. Not too many students were involved, and the club''s activities were few. Though the relatively short time span from admission to graduation is a great benefit to students, it also undermined extracurricular organizations, like ASB. The club’s membership was constantly fluctuating, because it was only a matter of months before old students would graduate and a new class would take their place.\n\nRecent hire John Hall aimed to change that. Both a recent college graduate and a veteran of high school admissions, the man had extensive experience working with students.\n\nHaving finished school recently, John is one of the younger employees of SJVC. He went to college at California State University San Marcos for History, before pursuing a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership at CSU San Diego.\n\nWhen John arrived at SJVC, he had plenty of experience in education. While his official job was a general education instructor, he offered to be the activities commissioner for ASB, a job that would come out of his own time.\n\n“Student activity has blossomed under his leadership,” says Robyn Whiles, Temecula Campus Director.\n\nIt was under John that ASB began running a student store. The store is run by Temecula <a title="Business Administration program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration/" target="_blank">Business Administration</a> students, providing a good place for the students to test their skills. At its beginning, the student store was just a table. They would unfold it, display the merchandise, and put it away each day, using the college mailroom as a temporary venue. This nomadic business model is finally coming to an end, as the campus is planning to provide a permanent storefront for ASB to sell its products.\n\nThe money earned from selling merchandise is used first to maintain stock. The profits beyond that serve to assist charitable work, sometimes for needy SJVC students and their families.\n\n“Our main goal is to help students,” says John.\n\nJohn made and continues to make a significant push for more community service work on the part of ASB. For Thanksgiving, the efforts of ASB provided ten Temecula students grocery cards to buy traditional holiday meals. For the Christmas season, a dress down day helped fund those in hard times.\n\nThere have also been fundraisers for breast cancer awareness, suicide prevention, and autism awareness. ASB students also assisted the local food pantry. Bake sales are not unheard of, and events tying in with weekly football games can provide a fun way to relax between all the hard schoolwork and assignments.\n\nAs for his personality, he is described as “a well-balanced young man.”\n\n“He helps student and provides them a great role model, “says Robyn.\n\nConsidering he meets with students every day, John has built a rapport with the student body.\n\n“It has been amazing and fun to watch this campus grow,” says John. “I only want to see more students get involved.”\n\n“He’s really made the commitment to our students,” says Robyn, referring to all the work he does after hours, on his own time.\n\nJohn might be new, but his work is clearly felt.', 'Young addition shakes up Temecula Campus', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12484-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '', 12484, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12484-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12683, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '[caption id="attachment_2106" align="alignleft" width="294"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2106" title="Julia Foss" alt="Julia Foss" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Foss-Julia2-294x300.jpg" width="294" height="300" /> Julia has never planned to be an instructor before, but after working as a Respiratory Therapist for several years, the pieces just fell into place.[/caption]\n<p align="center"><b><i>“She </i></b>(Julia Foss) <b><i>is truly an amazing instructor who works hard, stays late and</i></b></p>\n<p align="center"><b><i> does whatever she can to help make sure we understand the material.”</i></b></p>\n<p style="text-align: right;">                                                             – Desiree Trejo,</p>\n<p style="text-align: right;">RT student</p>\n“One of my biggest thrills is knowing that my students are enjoying my class, because it is very important for students to have a positive and fun environment to promote learning,” says Julia Foss, <a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> instructor at the <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/" target="_blank">Temecula</a> campus. “It’s nice to see they’re happy with what I am doing.”\n\nMrs. Foss especially appreciates the support SJVC gives teachers.  “Our SLO (Student Learning Outcomes) guidelines help me teach students the course goals, while also giving us teachers some autonomy. That allows me to find creative ways to reach the students.”\n\nBut, within the fun parts are a lot of important and difficult professional and life lessons for students to absorb. The curriculum is intense and during externship, when students are in patient care rotation in addition to their course work, their workload doubles. “Watching students transform from not being able to even turn on a mechanical ventilator to being able to run the machine on a human being is an unbelievable transformation,” says Mrs. Foss. When uncertainty overtakes them she says, “Strive to be the best you can be and you’re going to be great.”\n\nJulia Foss did not plan to be a teacher. For several years she worked as a Respiratory Therapist in the home-health industry. She spent lots of time teaching patients and their families how to use their therapeutic equipment at home. Relocation had her looking online for something new. Seeing SJVC’s ad for an RT instructor she thought, “Hmm, that could be me.” Turns out, she was right.\n\nBeyond her teaching talents, Julia feels tremendous compassion for what her students must go through, both professionally and personally, to succeed in this field. Students’ externship in the real world of patient care puts them in the middle of intense life and death situations. “We talk about their clinical experiences every week in class,” says Foss. “They help save lives and they’ve seen people die,” she says. “We’ve cried together.”\n\nWhat Julia most hopes to give to her students is the drive to always be their best; to take the time to care and make a difference in a patient’s life.', 'Instructor relishes the transformation of education', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12475-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '', 12475, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12475-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12684, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '[caption id="attachment_2068" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/lauren_haney_photo_ps_v2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-2068" alt="The season of giving really took over at SJVC Temecula!" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/lauren_haney_photo_ps_v2-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a> The season of giving really took over at SJVC Temecula![/caption]\n\nThe season of giving started early for the <a title="Check out the SJVC Temecula campus here" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank">Temecula</a> campus. Since October students, staff and faculty have launched many fundraisers, organizations and special events in support of worthy causes, large and small.\n\nTheir last quarter push included a major fundraising effort by students from the Respiratory Therapy and Medical Assisting programs for SCAMP (Southern California Asthma Management Program) to send a child to SCAMP camp for a week. RT and MA students joined forced to mark Respiratory Care Week and Medical Assisting Appreciation Week (Oct. 21-25) by raising $1,500. – the cost of sending one child to camp to learn how to better manage their lives with asthma.\n\n“Everyone worked very hard to make wonderful informational posters and have fun activities to help raise funds for this worthy cause,” says William Hall, RT Program Director. Their efforts netted $2,160., and well over their goal to send one child to camp.\n\n“This event demonstrates how an idea once embraced by a small community, such as our campus, can exceed all expectations,” says Hall.\n\n<strong>Philippines Relief Fund</strong>\nThe ASB (Associate Student Body) wanted to do something to help victims of the devastating hurricane in the Philippines. A Nov. 20th bake sale, dress-down days and clothing sales brought in $250, which was given to the Red Cross for hurricane survivors.\n\n“Students donated time and brought in things to sell for between $.50-1.00 to raise money,” says John Hall, Temecula Dean of Student Services.\n\n<strong>Student Support Fund</strong>\nFundraising activities throughout November brought in enough contributions to provide eight students and their families with grocery store gift certificates for holiday dinners.\n\n<strong>Doors of Hope Orphanage, Baja, CA</strong>\nSeveral overflowing boxes of food and clothing donations have been collected for the Doors of Hope and were delivered by a group of SJVC students.\n\nASB, Diversity Club and HOSA have teamed up and organized activities that involved students, staff and faculty over the last three months to reach out into those in need both far away and right in their own back yard.\n\nEveryone has a little nicer holiday knowing they have improved someone else’s life by at least a small measure.', 'Making lives better through service and support', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12468-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:32', '2014-09-25 22:33:32', '', 12468, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12468-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12685, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '[caption id="attachment_1999" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1999 " title="Vania Fune with State Senator Joel Anderson" alt="Vania Fune with State Senator Joel Anderson" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/P1070519-copy-300x168.jpg" width="300" height="168" /> This State Senator''s office now has two more inhabitants: SJVC B.A. students.[/caption]\n\nBusiness internships are wrought with fierce competition. Many individuals look to get a leg up in the business world and SJVC students act with diligence to earn their spots.\n\nTemecula <a title="Business Administration program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration/" target="_blank">Business Administration</a> students Vania Fune and Liya Brykova are no exception. Both students had the good luck- or good resumes more likely- to be chosen for internships with California State Senator Joel Anderson’s office.\n\n“This is a rare opportunity,” says Melissa Cotter, General Education Instructor at <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/" target="_blank">Temecula</a>.\n\nCotter is very excited for her students. Their jobs will not involve coffee runs and busy work, but doing the same things they would be doing in a business office environment. Among their duties will be answering phone calls, writing emails to constituents, representing the Senator at public events, and more.\n\nThe real lesson learnt from all of this is probably the most important one to be learned for business: networking. Professionalism is key, from dressing appropriately to speaking and writing formally, as well as eloquently. Political work can be a valuable mentor in helping a business student learn the ways of professional communication.\n\nDespite working for the Senator for less than a month, Fune is already feeling the benefits of the experience.\n\n“It has given me the confidence to work in a business-like environment,” says Vania.\n\nThe internship is a perfect accompaniment to their studies. It does not conflict with the 14 month business program, as the hours can be tailored to fit the students’ schedules, ensuring that the program stays at the forefront.\n\nVania and Liya are also able to choose particular areas of focus, from marketing, community events, or more, tailoring the internship precisely to their prospective career interests.\n\n“It’s an amazing chance to learn, develop skills, and just to get yourself out there,” says Liya.\n\nCotter hopes that opportunities like these help students decide what they want to do with their lives after completing their program.\n\n“When they come in and are young they don’t know exactly what to do,” says Cotter. “But when they leave, they know what they want to do.”\n\nBesides, while a degree is very important, first-hand experience is desirable as well. This experience will undoubtedly look quite appealing in the eyes future employers. This job will only reinforce the lessons taught by SJVC.\n\nThis internship is great,” says Vania. “It provides me with experience to succeed in the business world.”', 'Business Administration Students right at home in political office', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12458-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12458, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12458-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(12686, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '&nbsp;\n\n[caption id="attachment_1980" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1980  " title="Temecula''s Pink Puffers" alt="Temecula''s Pink Puffers" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/FOT8C8C2-300x163.jpg" width="300" height="163" /> SJVC Temecula''s team managed to win 3rd place in the national Sputum Bowl.[/caption]\n\nEver since Hesperia’s <i>Pink Puffers </i>brought home a 1<sup>St</sup> Place victory in last May’s State Sputum Bowl competition, the team has been in intense training for the National stage. “They worked very hard these last few months to prepare themselves to compete on a national level,” says William Hall, <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/" target="_blank">Temecula</a> RT Program Director.\n\nTeam members <b>Cheryl Stansbury</b>, <b>Ian Peterson</b>, <b>Anthony Cocilova</b> and <b>Alyssa Reber</b>, along with <b>coach Shannon Cocilova</b>, drilled each other on questions they might anticipate during the heated rounds against <a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> students from all over the nation. They were secure in their knowledge and skill level, as well as their strong teamwork.\n\nThe National Convention and Sputum Bowl competition took place in Anaheim November 16-19 at the Convention Center. The student competition was comprised of 18-college teams of 4-students each, all poised to take the Winner’s Circle.\n\nSJVC’s <i>Pink Puffers</i> was undefeated going into the final rounds on the last night of the conference, finally losing out in the single-elimination contest.\n\nThe <i>Puffers</i> did not come home empty-handed, however. Not only did they secure Third Place in the Bowl, their competitors voted them to receive the Fred M. Helmholz Sportsmanship Award.\n\n“This sportsmanship award is a testament to the fact that they played well, worked well together and interacted with competitive teams in an honorable and professional manner,” says Hall. “We are very proud of their performance.”\n\nThe four-day conference was an opportunity for students, RT graduates and RT professionals in the field to meet, share information and sharpen knowledge and skills. The conference drew thousands from across the nation to hear lectures from leaders in the field and visit vendor booths presenting the latest respiratory care technology.\n\n“This was a great experience for our students,” says Hall. “And, because of their win, they will be known all over the state and the nation.”\n\nTheir 3<sup>rd</sup> Place win and Sportsmanship Award will also fit nicely on future resumes.', 'Temecula Respiratory Therapy Sputum Bowl Team competes nationally', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12455-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12455, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12455-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12687, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '[caption id="attachment_1766" align="alignleft" width="290"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1766" title="Respiratory Therapy student Cheryl Stansbury and her family" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/IMAG0436-1-290x290.jpg" alt="Respiratory Therapy student Cheryl Stansbury and her family" width="290" height="290" /> Cheryl and her fellow Respiratory Therapy students found support in a rather unlikely place.[/caption]\n\nCheryl Stansbury knew things were going to be tight when she started her <a title="SJVC Temecula''s Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> program in <a title="Respiratory Therapy at SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank">Temecula</a>. Her husband, Michael, was in an uncertain construction industry and his job site had him commuting 90-minutes each way. Their 2-year old daughter, Gloria, needed a stable home environment with as little back-and-forth to child-care as possible. Stress was mounting.\n\n“They tell you it’s hard, but you don’t really know until you get into it,” says Cheryl. “I was surprised at how intense the program is; but we had lots of support.”\n\nMotivation to push on came from an unexpected source. Documentary, “Flight of the Geese” was shown in RT Program Director and instructor William Hall’s class one day. It explained that geese fly in a V formation because the aerodynamic shape reduces the air resistance, enabling them to cover longer distances than flying in isolation.\n\nThe birds take turns being in the front, falling back when they get tired, and another goose from the back takes the lead. Throughout their journey every goose helps out and takes a turn leading; their synergy of working together makes their flight less stressful and more productive.\n\n“The geese would even honk ‘encouragement’ when they got too slow,” says Cheryl. “Everyone in class got it. From then on we would honk at each other before a quiz for ‘good luck’, or we’d text ‘honk, honk, honk’,” she says.\n\nThe RT class realized that they could experience greater individual and group success if they pulled together as a team and took turns in a leadership role.\n\n‘Everyone had some sort of family situation that made it hard,” says Cheryl. She was no different.\n\nCheryl was up most mornings at 4:30 to take little Gloria to her mom’s house. Cheryl’s mom, also named Gloria, went from full-time to part-time work just to help out. When Cheryl was in 12-hour clinical rotation days, she would have 2-day blocks of not seeing her daughter at all.\n\nShe had some help at home, too. Pulling long days and miles of travel, Michael stepped in to fill the gaps.\n\n“He is not a man of many words, but he showed his support with his actions,” says Cheryl. “If there was an absence of dinner on the table, he’d say, ‘Don’t worry about it; just study and take the time you need.’”\n\nCheryl did just that and along the way made her mark on the Respiratory Therapy program and her budding career. She was a member of the campus’s RT team that won this year’s Sputum Bowl State Championship. With a 4.0 GPA and perfect attendance, she was Salutatorian for her graduating class.\n\nRight after her August graduation, Cheryl took three National Board of Respiratory Care exams to earn CRT, RRT and NPS credentials.\n\n“Cheryl is the perfect example of what it means to be a ‘clinician’ versus ‘technician’ in the field of Respiratory Therapy,” says William Hall. “She faced every challenge presented to her with a positive attitude and has set an amazing bar for all future RT students to strive to reach.”\n\nCheryl says her ‘standout moment’ was when she found out that the entire RT class of twelve passed all three exams on their first try. “That was awesome,” she says.\n\nPositive momentum is hard to stop.\n\nInland Valley Medical Center was her very first clinical rotation – and she was the first RT student the Center had ever invited for externship. She was confident and excited to demonstrate her skills and knowledge.\n\n“I loved everything about our program and school,” says Cheryl. “We had the best equipment so I was ready to go into any clinical site I was sent to.”\n\nCheryl begins her career in respiratory care at Inland Valley Medical Center, her first extern site, this month (Oct.). Big honks all around.', 'Honk if you need encouragement', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12440-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12440, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12440-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12688, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '[caption id="attachment_1687" align="alignleft" width="290"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1687" title="Student Brenda Cabrera" alt="Student Brenda Cabrera" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Screen-Shot-2013-09-16-at-9.25.58-AM-290x290.png" width="290" height="290" /> When Brenda''s stepmother died in a car accident, Brenda found solace and purpose in her studies.[/caption]\n\nBrenda Cabrera grew up wishing she could be anywhere but home. Her parents were divorced and her father, Roger, “fought for custody many times,” says Brenda. When she was 17 her father was finally successful, and Brenda went to live with him and her stepmother, Elvia, and stepbrother, Yandell. She had the family she longed for all those years.\n\nAfter Brenda graduated from high school, she was pretty sure she wanted to join the military. But, she and Elvia had grown so close that Elvia couldn’t bear the thought of Brenda leaving home.\n\n“She was the mother-figure in my life,” says Brenda. “And she was the one who motivated me, gave me confidence,” since her dad worked long hours and was away from home so much. “She kept telling me, ‘You need a brighter future.’”\n\nAlways interested in the medical field and with Elvia’s excitement for her to explore it, Brenda found herself looking at SJVC’s <a title="Medical Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Medical Assisting</a> program in <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/" target="_blank">Temecula</a> last September. Elvia whispered encouragement every step of the way.\n\nBefore Brenda could enroll, Elvia was killed in a car accident.\n\nGrieving and floundering without her strongest supporter, Brenda enrolled and began the MA program in October, just a month after her family’s devastating loss.\n\n“I really didn’t want to be in school and wasn’t planning on sticking around,” says Brenda. But then, two very important things happened. First, she fell in love with her medical studies.\n\n“I really connected with the hands-on activities, but thought I’d be too scared to do some of them,” says Brenda. “But, I didn’t shy away and just got in there and did the blood draws and injections.” She surprised herself and felt her fears melt away, “especially after my teacher looked at me and said, ‘That’s perfect; you’re a natural,’” says Brenda, who promptly started assisting other students.\n\nThe second thing that made it possible for Brenda to stick with her decision to get an education was meeting four new friends who, together, changed everything for her.\n\nShe found Elvia’s voice of love and support in these young women. Christian, Jenny, Eve and Adi are Brenda’s go-to when self-doubt creeps into her psyche.\n\n“I’m a very religious person and I believe she (Elvia) put them in my path so I could remember her words,” says Brenda. “I see her qualities in them and they say the things she always said.”\n\nToday, life is full for Brenda. She is feeling strong. At home she does all she can to help take care of her dad and little brother. At school she tries to touch as many lives as she can in a way that hers was touched. It doesn’t go unnoticed.\n\n“As a federal work study student tutor, she has walked many of her fellow students thought the math and English study plans with a gentle hand,” says instructor Jessica Knight. “Brenda is one of those special people who can add insight to your life or teach a lesson that you may not have understood before.”\n\nBrenda graduates in December and knows she will miss so much from her experience at <a title="medical assisting campus" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank">SJVC Temecula</a> – especially her four new friends.\n\n“We’ve talked about it and I know if we don’t get to see each other again, I am grateful for what they gave to me and I’ll take it with me,” says Brenda.\n\nBut Brenda will always remember the hard place she was in and how she got out.\n\n“I see people like that here and I’ll stop and ask if they want to talk,” she says. “Maybe I can help them out, if only to just have a better day. Share what’s been given to you. You know, pass it along.”', 'Medical Assisting Student Brenda on school, family and loss', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12430-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12430, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12430-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12689, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '[caption id="attachment_1721" align="alignleft" width="290"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1721" title="Temecula Respiratory Therapy prepares for national competition" alt="Temecula Respiratory Therapy prepares for national competition" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Screen-Shot-2013-10-07-at-8.44.24-AM-290x290.png" width="290" height="290" /> A taste of victory has inspired the Pink Puffers to extend their luck by another year.[/caption]\n\nOn the heels of winning the State Sputum Bowl competition last May, <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank">Temecula</a>’s <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> team, the Pink Puffers, is in full prep for the National Sputum Bowl competition to be held in Anaheim Nov. 16-19.\n\n “We were fortunate to have leaders of the CA Society of Respiratory Care Society Sputum Bowl events, Michael Terry and Alan Alipoon, here from Loma Linda University Medical Center to work with our team,” says William Hall, RT Program Director. “They brought their pool of questions and taught our team some valuable strategy for the national competition,” he says.\n\nThe rules for National and State competitions are very different and these two esteemed visitors volunteered their time to help Temecula’s RT team understand the new parameters.\n\n“Michael Terry and Alan Alipoon managed the events held in San Diego this year where our team secured their victory,” says Hall.\n\n<b><i>Chery Stansbury, Alyssa Reber </i></b>and <b><i>Anthony Cocilova </i></b>comprise Temecula’s Pink Puffers under the direction of <b><i>Coach Shannon Cocilova</i></b>, who will provide intense drills between now and the competition. <b><i>Ian Peterson </i></b>will now be included in the team, since the team is allowed four contestants.\n\nThe National Sputum Bowl will host up to 44-teams representing their home states. The competition will be stiff and the knowledge and skill level very high.\n\n“We are looking forward to a very exciting competition in Anaheim,” says Hall. “Most of all we are encouraging our team to enjoy themselves in this once in a life-time experience for them as students.  They have already won a prized title as California State Sputum Bowl Champions, and we are excited that they have brought themselves, SJVC Temecula and all of SJVC to a National arena.”\n\nWatch for this year’s Sputum Bowl results.', 'Sputum Bowl team preps for National competition', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12429-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12429, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12429-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12690, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '[caption id="attachment_1661" align="alignleft" width="280"]<img class=" wp-image-1661" style="border: 1px solid black; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px;" title="SJVC Temecula Softball Game" alt="SJVC Temecula Softball Game" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Temecula-Softball-RESIZED.jpg" width="280" height="209" /> Faculty versus students. Every student''s dream.[/caption]\n\nIt could have been Aliens vs. Predators on the softball field, as <a title="SJVC Temecula Campus " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank">Temecula</a> campus students went at it with staff and faculty. If the first biannual softball game held Aug. 9th at Birdsall Sports Park is any indication, future events are going to be down and dirty.\n\n<a title="Medical Assisting Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant" target="_blank">Medical Assisting</a> instructor, Rhonda Brown got the ball rolling for a staff/faculty vs. students baseball game when she posed the idea to John Hall, Coordinator of Student Activities on campus. After Mr. Hall introduced the idea in a faculty meeting and talked with ASB, everyone thought it would be a good way to have some positive interaction between the two groups.\n\nSign-up sheets were posted and each team had easily 15 players show up with about 30 supporters in the stands.\n\nIt was time to throw down.\n\nIt started slow for staff/faculty, and by the third inning students were on top 6-0 with almost all student team batters getting on base. It looked like a lock for them when <a title="Respiratory Therapy Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> student, Michael Burkhard hit the only homer of the day.\n\nThen the earth tilted – or the staff and faculty team woke up to the likelihood of an embarrassing loss that they would have to live down for many long classes to come.\n\nAHCM instructor, Mrs. Schiffner stepped up to the plate, sized things up and cracked a double. Inspired by the new momentum, her team caught fire. Now it was a game.\n\nThe heat was contagious as both teams dug in to win it. Then it was the final inning and the last play of the game. Staff and faculty gave it all they got to just squeak past students with a 15-14 lead. But now, students were last at bat and had bases loaded with two outs. It could happen.\n\nThe batter connected with RT instructor, Shannon Cocilova’s over-the-plate pitch, for a low grounder headed straight to first base. Sheeeee’s out!\n\nThe crowd of friends and family in the stands went wild…or sighed in disappointment, depending on whose side they were on. Staff and faculty could return to classes and desks without shame.\n\nBack on campus student buzz was loud and demanding a rematch…immediately. It looks as though they will have to hold themselves in check, as the next match is tentatively planned for six months down the road.\n\n“We’re out there for the fun of it, to try to get people out there for a good time,” says John Hall. “In the future we might use this championship game to benefit some charity event.” Big plans for the next game include team names and t-shirts.\n\nBut staff/faculty and student team members won’t have to wait long for a little recognition. Some members of both teams will receive awards for Best Batter, Best Fielder, Most Supportive and Most Valuable Player to be announced at the Sept. 24th Awards Ceremony.', 'And…..you’re out!', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12422-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12422, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12422-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12691, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '[caption id="attachment_1659" align="alignleft" width="280"]<img class=" wp-image-1659" style="border: 1px solid black; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px;" title="SJVC Temecula Blood Drive" alt="SJVC Temecula Blood Drive" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Tem-Blood-Drive-RESIZED.jpg" width="280" height="210" /> Students generously donated 71 pints of blood.[/caption]\n\nMore than 40-students from all programs offered on the <a title="SJVC Temcula Campus " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank">Temecula </a>campus lined up to make their greatest gift – their life-blood – to people they would never meet.\n\nAug. 13th was the third time campus HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) students partnered with Lifestream, who organizes community blood drives, to help those in need in Riverside County.\n\nThis Biannual Blood Drive, held on campus, is made possible through the efforts of HOSA members and student, staff and faculty volunteers.\n\n“We collected 71 pints of blood this year,” says John Hall, Coordinator of Student Activities.\n\n“Although it was 8 pints short of the campus’s previous record, we were able to register 50 new donors for our area,” says Hall.\nThe new names will be added to Lifestream’s data base of blood donors and will all be invited to participate again, during the next blood drive.\n\nTemecula campus volunteers are always eager to support activities that have such a personal and profound impact on their community.', 'The greatest gift', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12421-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12421, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12421-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12692, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '<img class="alignleft  wp-image-1633" style="border: 1px solid black; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px;" title="SJVC Magnificent Seven" alt="SJVC Magnificent Seven" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/David-Huezo-Magnificen-Seven-RESIZED.jpg" width="196" height="263" />David Huezo didn’t set out to be a recruiter for SJVC when he enrolled in the <a title="Medical Assisting Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant" target="_blank">Medical Assisting </a>program at the Temecula campus. But six of his closest friends from childhood and high school watched his growing success at SJVC and, one at a time, checked it out for themselves.\n\n“At first nobody paid attention that I was going to college,” says David. “But then they noticed how easy my hours were and that I could go and still hang out. They started thinking, ‘If he could be successful, why can’t we?’ and pretty much jumped in,” says David.\n\nDavid, who had just graduated from Murrieta Valley High School, actually enrolled before the new Temecula campus was even open.\n\n“I didn’t even finish my summer break before I enrolled after touring an empty building,” says David, who must have been pretty confident in the MA program to wait 2-months for construction completion.\n\nDavid’s friend, Isaias Anaya was the next friend to discover what SJVC Temecula had to offer. It was the <a title="Business Administration Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration" target="_blank">Business Administration</a> program that got his attention right away. Since he had taken accounting, marketing and other business classes in high school, he felt it was a natural for him.\n\n“I started a business (class project) in high school and moved from the accounting field to manager, CEO then president,” says Isaias. His was a nice move up the business model ladder and good preparation for the BA program and future employment positions.\n\nGood friend Alex Stoenesco was third at bat. The MA program was a good fit for him, too, and he kept the friends-for-college momentum going.\n\nAlong the way both David and Isaias made sure their friends knew why they chose SJVC, a private Junior college, over other options, such as community colleges.\n\nDavid was convinced that “all of the hands-on training that teaches you more than one way of doing things” and the time-savings of “getting all the classes you need” and having SJVC “set your schedule for you” made all the difference.\n\n“We offer support on an individual basis and hope that no student is ever lost in the crowd,” says Robyn Whiles, Temecula Campus Director. “I think this shines through when longtime friends are willing to suggest to people they care about that attending SJVC is a good experience.”\n\nIsaias felt that the biggest private school pay-off was definitely in the accelerated training that earned graduates a degree in a shorter time.\n\n“Look, I know I pay loans for a couple of years, but the faster you get your degree, the sooner you’ll pay them off,” says Isaias. “The biggest advantage is that you’re a step ahead of everybody else.”\n\nBy the time both David and Isaias completed their programs at SJVC, five long-term friends were well into their programs, too.\n\nJoey Abella, <a title="Medical Office Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-office" target="_blank">Medical Office Administration</a> student, is the latest of the group to enroll. Joey had never planned to go to college, but his childhood friends David, Isaias and Alex made it hard to resist giving it a try. Joey’s brother, Aron Edall, and cousin, Geoffrey Catbagan, had their own stories of success at SJVC that helped to convince him.\n\nIf you’ve lost count, it’s up to six friends and family members who shared major life events for a long time and decided to make a college degree the latest of their group accomplishments.\n\nComing in at number seven, Steven Avalos started the<a title="Pharmacy Technology Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology" target="_blank"> Pharmacy Technology</a> program at the same time Joey started his MOA program.\n\n“This thread of family and friends attending our campus is such a reflection of our culture and goals. We want to spread the word by referral what SJVC Temecula has to offer,” says Robyn Whiles.\n\nThese <i>Magnificent Seven </i>spent a lifetime in the same neighborhood, same schools and same group of friends – sometimes in the same family. But they know their educational success is now starting to reach beyond the intimacy of their immediate group of guy-friends.\n\nDavid’s cousin, Janet Rivera, has enrolled in the MA program and Isaias has sisters in middle school he is already working on. Isaias’ cousin, Arturo de Paz, took his advice about the benefits of an education at <a title="San Joaquin Valley College " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/" target="_blank">SJVC</a> and will graduate from Temecula’s Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting program in October.\n\nAnd, the original seven have dreams beyond their shared success at SJVC.\n\n“As the first to go to college in my family I want to stay where I am for a few years, then go on to become a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner,” says David Huezo.\n\nNo doubt David’s dreams will light a fire in the competitive spirit of the guy-group and find others among them stretching their ambitions, as well.\n\n“SJVC <a title="SJVC Temecula Campus " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank">Temecula</a> is changing the community landscape, offering training to neighbors and friends here in the community they live in,” says Whiles.\n\nWhen good advice comes from a trusted friend, it is contagious.', 'SJVC’s own Magnificent Seven', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12419-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12419, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12419-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12693, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '<strong><em><img class="alignleft  wp-image-1413" style="margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; border: black 1px solid;" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Allen-LaHeist-RESIZED2.jpg" alt="Allen LaHeist RESIZED" width="200" height="300" />“Mr. Allen LaHeist is one of the best teachers there (Temecula campus). He not only </em></strong><strong><em>teaches us from the book, but also teaches us life lessons. There is never a day that </em></strong><strong><em>we don’t learn something new. Our grades in class can prove his excellence in teaching.” </em></strong><strong><em>– Shannon Rorabaugh, student</em></strong>\n\nAllen LaHeist is one of those people who is meant to be a teacher. As an Independent Duty Hospital Corpsman – ‘combat medic’ – for 21-years, he has a lot of life experience to share. “I’m prior military, so I’m always teaching somebody something,” says LaHeist. And, the<a title="SJVC Temecula Campus " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula" target="_blank"> Temecula </a>campus was fortunate enough to get him on faculty and put him in front of knowledge-hungry students.\n\nAllen knows he is connecting with students from his Monthly Reviews. But nothing feels as good as real-time positive feedback. “Every time I walk down the hall somebody grabs me and says, ‘I wish you were still my teacher,’” he says.\n\nThat doesn’t mean that students haven’t struggled in his classes, which include <a title="Medical Assisting " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical_assistant" target="_blank">Medical Assisting</a>, <a title="Pharmacy Technology " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology" target="_blank">Pharmacy Technology</a> and Business Administration program curriculum. “No matter which class it is, I try to keep it as fun and interesting as possible,” says LaHeist. “No one learns much if it isn’t fun.”\n\nMost of his students come into their MA class with horror stories of a missed vein or huge bruises from previous blood draws and so “are a little phobic about drawing blood,” says Allen. “By the time they leave my class they are proficient at it and can stick anybody.”\n\nAllen employs a technique – a verbal drill – that drives his point home to students. “See one, do one, teach one.” First, the student watches, then performs the task, then shows someone else. “You don’t know it until you can teach it,” says LaHeist, who, with two Masters’ Degrees, knows something about learning methodologies from both ends of the spectrum.\n\nBut Allen saves his best advice for those hugely stressful times in students’ lives. Whether it is a struggle with memorization, exam anxiety, fear of blood or not getting an important subject concept, he reminds them to “just breathe”. “That’s what they forget to do,” he says. “If someone tells me they can’t do math, I say ‘relax, just breathe, and we’ll find another way to teach you.’” Not everyone learns in the same way, or has a teacher who understands that so well.', 'Teacher Student Connection ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12394-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:33', '2014-09-25 22:33:33', '', 12394, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12394-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12694, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Winners.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-1306" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Winners.jpg" alt="Winners" width="346" height="206" /></a>Doubters and nay-sayers step aside. <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula">Temecula’</a>s <i>Pink Puffers </i>showed ‘em all how the new kids on the RT block can sweep up in competition. Last week our Temecula campus sent two teams of 3-students to the statewide Sputum Bowl conference in San Diego where they competed against 22 other teams – including <a title="SJVC Rancho Cucamonga" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/rancho-cucamonga">SJVC Rancho Cucamonga’s </a><i>Premature Buzzers</i> – to bring home the championship win.\n\n“It is an amazing feat for a young <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy">RT</a> program that has yet to have any graduates!” enthuses Robyn Whiles, Temecula Campus Director. “It says millions about the rigors and quality of our program.”\n\nThe Bowl’s Jeopardy-style rounds ask questions in varying degrees of difficulty about RT industry theories, disciplines and practices.  Two days and 10-hours of heated buzzer-slams resulted in intense playoffs among the four remaining teams: SJVC-Temecula vs. Mt. Sac and SJVC-Rancho Cucamonga vs. Crafton Hills. First-round playoffs saw Rancho Cucamonga and Mt. Sac slide away. Temecula’s <i>Pink Puffers </i>then threw down with the Crafton Hills’ <i>Peep of 4 </i>to bring home the win.\n\nThe winning <i>Puffers</i> Cheryl Stansbury, Alyssa Reber and Anthony Cocilova came in 3<sup>rd</sup> when they competed in the Regional competition in April (Rancho Cucamonga’s <i>Buzzers </i>came in 2<sup>nd</sup>). Their coach and SJVC faculty member, Shannon Cocilova, has been working with the determined team for several months in preparation to move through the competition and take the title.\n\nThe big finale to Respiratory Therapy’s Sputum Bowl Competition is looming. The nationwide competition will pit state winners against each other to take the national title. But, there is at least one more recently converted fan rooting for the <i>Puffers</i>. Rancho Cucamonga RT Program Director, Ricardo Guzman, weighs in with a message to Temecula Campus Director, Robyn Whiles: “Your young students showed heart and courage, and placed themselves on the RT map,” says Guzman. “And, they get to represent the entire state and all of SJVC at the National Competition in Anaheim in November.”\n\nRicardo Guzman’s comments reflect the pride we all take in the accomplishments of all three of our competing teams. Also from Temecula, the <i>Blue Bloaters</i>: Jig Paten, Ian Peterson, Brittany Rubiano, Desiree Trejo and Team Coach, Shannon Cocilova. And from Rancho Cucamonga, the <i>Premature Buzzers</i>: Weston Taylor, Anthony Covarrubias, Seth Winetrout, Christopher Shannon and Team Coach, Grey Benton.\n\nHaving won a seat at the National Competition, the <i>Pink Puffers </i>are back in training and dreaming about bringing home the Big Prize. They have lots of supporters. “Now everyone knows what we already knew,” says Guzman. “SJVC Temecula Rocks!”\n\nGuzman’s support does have its limits, however. “We are all very proud of you,” he says. “But watch out next year; we’re coming for you!”', 'New Respiratory Therapy Program Brings Home the Win', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12392-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12392, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12392-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12695, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Temecula-Heart-Walk.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1265" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Temecula-Heart-Walk-290x290.jpg" alt="Temecula Heart Walk" width="290" height="290" /></a>This year’s <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula">Temecula</a> Valley Heart Walk drew a large crowd of 1,200 participants and lots of support from SJVC students, staff and faculty. The 5k walk is an annual event held this year at Lake Skinner to bring awareness about heart disease to the public and raise funds for research and medical services.\n\n<a title="Medical Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant">CAMA</a> and <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy">Respiratory Therapy</a> students, <b><i>Rosa Virella, Kevin Suyoto, Sarah Bowers, Sabrina Hernandez-Robles, Bonnie Rodriguez, Lisa Maria, Sonmany Sulit </i></b>and <b><i>Ana Rosa Tejeda</i></b>, along with CAMA instructor <b><i>Miss Sutter </i></b>and Coordinator of Student Activities, <b><i>John Hall </i></b>volunteered from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM at SJVC’s booth, providing health screenings to registered walkers and the those there to cheer them on. “The students did excellent and put their best foot forward in helping participants get their screenings,” says John Hall. “Some participants had their blood pressure taken both before and after walking to measure the difference,” says Hall.\n\nThe event was a huge success, raising $77,834. This is the 2<sup>nd</sup> year SJVC students have participated in the Temecula Valley Heart Walk. “This was a great opportunity for our students to practice their skills and network with other professionals in their industry,” says Hall.', 'Students Volunteer Services at Heart Walk', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12386-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12386, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12386-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12696, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/553382_159681270840807_351391281_n.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1075" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/553382_159681270840807_351391281_n.jpg" alt="553382_159681270840807_351391281_n" width="213" height="206" /></a>Anthony Garcia found more than a career path when he began the <a title="Medical Office" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-office/">Administrative Health Care Management</a> program in <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula">Temecula</a>. He found the courage, which steadfastly eluded him throughout high school, to come out as a gay man.\n\nAnthony was determined to start his new school with the truth of who he is and not “clam up”, as he had all his life, about something so important to his identity. “When I finally told some classmates straight out that I was gay they said, ‘Oh, we don’t care,’” says Anthony. Their attitude was a big shift from those he endured the previous year when word of his sexual orientation began to surface. “2011 was the worst year of my life,” he says. But, it was also a year of great promise for positive change.\n\nAnthony’s parents were hardest hit with his disclosure. “It took my mom awhile to accept it, but now she is very supportive,” he says. Anthony went through a few months of self-destructive behaviors that friends helped pull him through. “Friends helped me in the first months of coming out by texting and making sure I was alright,” he says. “Their support made me feel more accepted.” He decided, “If this is who you are, you should not be afraid to express it; and people who love you will still be there for you.”\n\nSchool was his refuge and he began to open up to others. “I became more outgoing, not afraid to be myself and would talk to and be friends with anybody,” he says. Anthony was given the Notable Newbie Award for reaching out to other students and helping them to do well. His own academic performance excelled. Never a very good student in high school, he was surprised to find himself making As and Bs in his coursework. “Seeing my grades made me feel even more confident and like this is really right for me,” he says. His parents are very proud of his accomplishments, as well.\n\nAnthony gives a lot of credit to the culture of a private college compared to a community education system. “It’s like coming into a family with all that support behind you,” he says. “I would love for those who are afraid to go to school because of their sexual orientation to not be afraid,” he says. “Everyone here welcomed me with open arms.”\n\nAsthmatic throughout his childhood, Anthony is eager to enter the medical field and help others struggling with health issues. What is his greatest inspiration? “Life is my biggest inspiration; seeing the world another day; helping people another day,” says Anthony.\n\nHis commitment to being an ‘open book’ has many more heartfelt chapters unfolding.', 'Student Finds Courage To Be Himself', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12362-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12362, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12362-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12697, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', 'Kevin Suyoto grew up in Provo <a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Kevin-and-Sigit-Sujoto.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-599" title="Kevin and Sigit Sujoto" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Kevin-and-Sigit-Sujoto-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>, Utah where service to others was as much a part of his culture and environment as the red rock mountains and deep canyons. It was no surprise to his friends and family that he decided to set his sights on a career in the medical field, first as a <a title="Medical Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/">Medical Assistant</a> and eventually to get his Bachelor’s in Science and Nursing.\n\n“I’ve grown up in a religion that focuses on helping others, and medicine and science have always been intriguing to me,” says Kevin. It all comes together for him in class lectures and lab sessions in his Medical Assisting program on the Temecula campus and is reflected in his 4.0 GPA.  “I like to get to class at least a half-hour early to study and do homework,” he says. “It helps me to focus better, if I’m here.”\n\nKevin first heard about <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/">SJVC</a> from the college’s High School representative, who followed up on an interest card Kevin filled out after a school presentation. A visit to the campus convinced him that this was the right path to eventually work one-on-one with patients.\n\nThings had to fall into place quickly.  Kevin only had two weeks between his high school graduation and the MA program start date. He made it happen.  Now, with almost 6-months of education and training under his belt, Kevin has a better idea of his fit for this career choice. What has intrigued him so far?  “I like the hands-on clinicals best,” he says. And, injections. “We’ve done so many on each other that I’m not afraid of them anymore.”\n\nHis favorite part of class is the big tests. “I know it’s going to sound weird, but I like exam days,” he says, “because, they are also potluck days,” a nice reward for all the students’ hard work.  The future looks very bright for Kevin who plans to work part-time as a Medical Assistant after graduation next August, while continuing his education. Right now he is grateful to have the support of his Dad to help him get to a place of self-sufficiency. Kevin seems well on his way.', 'On A Path To Service', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12338-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12338, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12338-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12698, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/The-Giving-Tree1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-859" title="The Giving Tree" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/The-Giving-Tree1-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>In early December,<a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/"> SJVC Temecula </a>initiated the giving tree, an opportunity for families in need to receive gifts for their children and families. As of December 20<sup>th</sup>, nearly 40 wishes have been fulfilled by faculty, students, staff, and fundraising on campus. Extra funds for wishes were gathered by selling candygrams and delivering holiday messages delivered by students from Diversity, HOSA, ASB, and even Mr. Magilla the Christmas Gorilla. There was also an ugly sweater dress down day, giving students an opportunity to share in the holiday spirit, as well as compete for ugliest sweater!\n\nLasting an entire month, the holiday can food drive was a huge success, refilling (and overflowing) the SJVC Temecula food pantry, and creating 8 holiday feasts for families in need on campus. Through competition between the floors, nearly 600 cans and non-perishable items were collected – <em>that’s over 2 items per student!</em> This effort helped provide some holiday feasts, as well as rejuvenate a long-lasting food pantry on campus for students in need.\n\nThe alumni association is now in full swing! After having its first meeting, students graduating and about to graduate at SJVC Temecula had their first meeting towards the future of SJVC! Numerous ideas will soon be starting, including alumni events, a scholarship fund for new SJVC students, publications and testimonials, and more! If you’re interested in getting more information, or even helping plan the future of alumni at <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>, please contact Mr. Hall at 951 296 6015.', 'The Giving Tree', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12350-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12350, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12350-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12699, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Joseph-Weaver.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-638" title="Joseph Weaver" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Joseph-Weaver-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a> “Some people like going to school and some don’t,” says <a title="Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration/">Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning and Refrigeration </a>student, Joseph Weaver. “I’m one who doesn’t.” He spent 6-months at a Jr. College before he accepted that all those General Ed classes just didn’t interest him and he dropped out.\n\nSo imagine his surprise when his academic accomplishments and good attendance earned him recognition recently by his SJVC instructors. Everything about his HVAC-R program is working for him.\n\n“First of all, they (<a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>) give you a laptop and all the tools you will need for any job,” says Joey, who is among the first students to enroll on the new Temecula campus. “All of the equipment is brand new, so we’re the first to get to play with all this great stuff,” he says.\n\nIt’s not just the hands-on training that appeals to Joey. The heating and air conditioning industry makes a lot of career sense to him.\n\n“Everyone in this class is here for the same reason: to make money,” he says. Joey knows that with his degree, specialized education and training – and all those great tools – he will strengthen his potential for job security.\n\nJoey’s two instructors have 45-years combined experience in the field and that gives him even greater confidence that he will be competitive in the job market.\n\n“They tell us, ‘If you need something, just call”’, he says. “It’s not like at Jr. College where you are given a 15-minute slot of time and if your question doesn’t get answered, too bad.”\n\nJoey, his wife Erin and their two young children are making huge sacrifices to get him through to graduation in December, 2013. He works full-time at Lowes from 3:00 am to 11:30 am – a 40-hr. work week – while he attends evening HVAC-R classes. Erin works part-time, so Joey helps with childcare and catches a nap when the kids go down. Living with Erin’s mother, Tammie, who also helps with the children, has made their commitments possible.\n\nIt was Erin who prompted Joey to go back to school. Always resistant, it wasn’t until she woke him up to show him a TV commercial for SJVC’s HVAC-R program that he finally gave it serious thought.  He called the college and made an appointment for the same day. He hadn’t taken a test since graduating from high school seven years earlier, so he was a little nervous about the entrance exam. He shouldn’t have worried.\n\nNow, at the top of his class, he knows that he has finally found his education and career fit. Sometimes wives just have a sense about these things.', 'Finally The Right School For Temecula HVAC-R Student', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12344-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12344, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12344-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(12700, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Temecula3.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-693 alignleft" title="Temecula" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Temecula3-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>On September 20<sup>th</sup> almost 300 of <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">San Joaquin Valley College’s (SJVC)</a> students, staff and faculty participated in creating awareness about violence among nations and in our homes through Peace One Day events on their <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/">Temecula </a>campus. “By bringing Peace One Day to our students, we are striving to achieve peace in our local community, which brings us one step closer to achieving real peace in the world,” says SJVC instructor Sandra Schiffner.     \n\nIn 1999, filmmaker Jeremy Gilley launched Peace One Day to begin to establish an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence. In 2001, just days before the September 11 terrorist attack, the United Nations adopted September 21st as the International Day of Peace. It is a day not only about creating peace between nations, but about supporting non-violence in our homes, schools and communities. His documentary, “The Day after Peace”, has provided much of the inspiration for San Joaquin Valley College’s commitment to celebrating this day and this idea.\n\nPeace Day provides an opportunity for groups and individuals – especially young people – to become involved in the peace process. Across the nation, across the world, people gathered to show support for non-violence at home and abroad.\n\nStudents at SJVC’s Temecula campus filled out “peace pledge cards” which stated how they might promote peace in their own lives and in the world around them. Instructors devoted class time to discussions about wars, the proliferation of violence, the difficulties of maintaining peace, and the importance of freedom on both a local and international scale. The day’s activities concluded with an ice cream party, raffle, campus photo and a ‘flash mob’ of students and faculty set to “Party Rock Anthem”.\n\nTo commemorate Peace Day, several other San Joaquin Valley College campuses held fundraising events and organized walks in support of agencies that promote peace or that provide resources to victims of domestic violence. Most SJVC campuses orchestrated their events to allow all students enrolled in day and evening Medical, Business and Technical class sessions to participate.\n\nJeremy Gilley’s next objective is to have introduced 3 billion people to Peace Day by the end of this year. Peace One Day wants to engage all sectors of society to observe September 21 through the practical manifestation of non-violence and ceasefire in accordance with UN GA Resolution 55/282, and encourage action on Peace Day that creates a united and sustainable world. Websites: Peace One Day at peaceoneday.org.  International Day of Peace at internationaldayofpeace.org.', 'SJVC Students Walk for ''Peace One Day''', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12327-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12327, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12327-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12701, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', 'Disabled and elderly patients at the Manor Care facility in Hemet enjoyed the time and attention of several Temecula <a title="SJVC Medical Programs" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-programs/">medical students</a> earlier this month when a half-dozen students volunteered a few hours as part of their HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) membership on campus.\n\n<a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/">SJVC Temecula’s </a>HOSA student-members are committed to lending a helping-hand in their communities in preparation for a career in the service of others. Volunteerism is a primary part of HOSA membership and students regularly contribute their time and support to groups, facilities, causes and agencies that benefit those in need.\n\nStudents were enthusiastic as they engaged Manor Care patients in activities such as singing, coloring and Bingo; and residents were also treated to a violin performance by Anne Balsar, SJVC student and HOSA member. A ‘thank-you’ card students received from Bonny, one of the Manor Care patients, said it all: “Smiling faces are always welcome here. You took your time to spend time with me. That touches my heart.”\n\nStudents found that the time spent with these elderly or incapacitated patients was very rewarding and hope to visit the facility again soon and with a new plan for activities and prizes. “It felt really good to bring so many smiles, just from us being there and dedicating our time to them (patients),” says one of the student volunteers.', 'HOSA in Hemet', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12312-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12312, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12312-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12702, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jy.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-244" title="jy" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jy-300x168.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="168" /></a>“We would have been backed up on work if <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>’s students had not volunteered.”  (-Conner Troy, The Outreach Farm Project)\n\nActive participation in the community is nothing new for SJVC students, but the places and ways students volunteer for the community is always changing.\n\n<a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/">SJVC Temecula </a>students volunteered with the Outreach Farm Project this month, a non-profit organization that supplies the Temecula Murrieta Rescue Mission with fresh, locally grown produce.\n\nFounded in the spring of 2009 when the recession’s impact was devastating families throughout the U.S., the Outreach Farm Project seeks to meet the needs of those struggling to obtain the basics of food and shelter.  Three acres are dedicated in partnership with a local flower farm and the farm manager''s family to grow fresh fruits and vegetables to help supplement the Rescue Mission''s food distribution program.\n\nThe Outreach Farm Project is run entirely on donation and volunteers, from ground preparation to seeds, supplies and labor to crop harvest.  Over 150,000 pounds of produce has been donated to the Rescue Mission in the last three years.\n\n“I loved having the opportunity to join an organization that is dedicated to helping others. It has been one of the best heartfelt experiences of my life,” said ASB president Ronnie Gonzales.\n\n“Most of us felt that we could stay longer because we wanted continue helping such a great cause. There is so much we could say about this event, but the only way to completely understand and feel the rewards of this experience is definitely by participating in it - there are not enough words to describe its effects on you as a human being.”', 'New Ways to Join the Temecula Community', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12302-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12302, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12302-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12703, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/475888_293450844054851_147272198672717_728217_1186257431_o.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-188" title="475888_293450844054851_147272198672717_728217_1186257431_o" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/475888_293450844054851_147272198672717_728217_1186257431_o-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>What started out as a typical day for eight students quickly turned into something extraordinary. A simple phone call to James Cunnigham, Kailynn Parker, Angelina Guinn, Estrellita Gonzales, Ann Fera, Jaime Biehl, Darien Robinson and Laura Pittman resulted in the beginning of a trip to Washington DC that they would remember forever.\n\n“My initial reaction was disbelief. I was at my extern site when the campus management team called me to tell me I won. I was so surprised and exited that I began to cry,” expressed <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu" target="_blank">SJVC </a>student Star Gonzales. Joy and excitement flooded through each of the students as they were informed that they had won. Students were selected through nominations by faculty and an essay competition (to read excerpts of the winning essays, see below).\n\nThe three day and three night trip was packed full of sight-seeing and bonding with fellow SJVC students and employees.\n\nThe sights that they were privileged to see included the National Museum of Natural History, American History Museum, National Archives Museum, Ford ‘s theatre, dinner at Union Station, the US Capitol Building and a night tour of all the monuments.\n\nThe students were accompanied by Mike Perry, Beth Hyde, Alyssa Perry and Lauren Haney. They loved getting to know the people who had helped make this trip possible. All of the students agreed that Mr. Perry was a most knowledgeable tour guide!\n\nEven though the trip was full of fun, they also went there for a purpose. The students had the opportunity to go to California representatives and explain to them why SJVC was the best educational option for them and why state and federal funding is so important to their education and success.\n\n“Standing up for my school and my fellow students was the best part for me,” stated Temecula student Kailynn Parker. The students believed that they were allowed to go one step farther in expressing their love for school, which most people do not get the chance to do.\n\nEvery student agreed that this trip greatly influenced them and showed how grateful they were to be a part of the SJVC family. The students would like to thank SJVC for the amazing opportunities to not only go on an amazing trip, but to also grow as a person, student and professional.\n\n"After attending my first class, a wave of unfamiliar excitement toward school had overcome me, as I saw, for the first time, a small class with a teacher that actually cares that you are ''getting it''...Because of the sincere attention of the faculty, I have been able to excel in all of my courses, contribute many hours to community service, develop a clear focus on what it will take to enter the workforce, and for the first time in my thirty-two years of life, I am really, truly proud of myself." -Annie Ferla\n\n"I put off coming back to school for approximately 15 years. I always did well in job interviews, so I’ve always been able to get good jobs with only a high school education. Though supervisory positions seemed tempting, my lack of qualifications held me back from pursuing these dreams...One of the analogies that best describe my experiences at SJVC is: SJVC is to the student, as the hardware store is to the carpenter. This refers to the preparation and accumulation of the ‘tools’ necessary to complete a job. In my opinion SJVC gives its students the skills or ‘tools’ necessary to compete in the job market, land a great job, and be successful." -Darien Robinson\n\n“''For changes to be of any true value, they''ve got to be lasting and consistent.'' This quote exemplifies what an education at San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) is giving me. My education will help me obtain a career and live to be a better person. I have gone through many changes in my life but my greatest change has been obtained while attending SJVC. I have learned to have more confidence in myself and to be able to hold my head up high." -Jamie Biehl\n\n"Attending SJVC has made me a good citizen. It has helped me become a better and professional person. Getting this my college degree from SJVC has made me more confident. Because I was a foster child, I had no hopes in graduating high school let alone get my college degree. So, when I heard about San Joaquin Valley College, I was hopeful. Then I came to school and I found it as an amazing opportunity to improve my abilities as well as better my education, making a better future for myself. <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/">SJVC Temecula </a>has supported me when I needed help and support." -Kailynn Parker\n\n"In my entrance interview to SJVC, Mr. Nijjar told me that he expected more of me than what I gave at my old junior college; he wanted me to get straight A’s in this program. Maybe he says that to everybody that he interviews and maybe not, but I took it to heart. I did not achieve the straight A’s, but I came close, and I attribute it to the initial challenge that I received by administration at the very beginning of my SJVC experience. What junior college is going to take that level of personal interest in their students?" -Laura Pittman\n\n"My story is a great example of this. When I enrolled at SJVC, my mindset was that I was doing this for my family, to better help support them. It turns out that the best decision I ever made for them, was actually the best decision I have ever made for ME. The greatest thing I believe I have achieved here at SJVC is the confidence to believe in myself, and that who I am can have an impact on others." -Estrellita "Star" Gonzales\n\n"After my service in the United States ARMY, I started down a road of jobs that were not fulfilling. With every new job came the unsettling feeling that I was not doing what I truly wanted with my life. I had looked into applying for law enforcement jobs, but I felt I was not qualified for the position. My grandfather was a great man who served as a Missouri Highway Patrol Officer for 25 years, and every time I asked myself “Can I fill his shoes?” The answer came back, “No.” It was not until I found myself sitting in a class room at San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) that I finally felt my aspirations were finally becoming my reality. The confidence and knowledge I gained from the incredible instructors at SJVC in just seven short months has given me a new look on life. No longer do I doubt my capabilities. I now know I have what it takes to work along with some of the finest. SJVC has given me not only an education it has given me hope." -James Cunningham\n\n"A big reason to why I choose to attend college is in thanks to my mother. Unfortunately, my mother passed away two years ago, but something great came from her passing. The last months of her life she had nurse come daily to take care of her. I was so grateful for the care and respect she gave my mom. After her passing I realized I wanted to be able to pass it forward. I wanted to give patients the care and respect that nurse gave my mom, for this is why I knew I wanted to attend college to get into the medical field. SJVC became the perfect choice." -Angelina Gunn', 'SJVC Students take on Washington D.C. ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12295-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:50', '2014-09-25 22:33:50', '', 12295, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12295-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12704, 4, '2014-09-25 15:33:51', '2014-09-25 22:33:51', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/tem1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-168" title="tem1" alt="" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/tem1-300x225.jpg" width="300" height="225" /></a>This January, <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> CEO Mike Perry visited the <a title="SJVC Temecula" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/temecula/">Temecula</a> campus. This was his first visit with students attending.\n\nStaff and faculty welcomed Mike and his guests in the front lobby, introduced themselves, and expressed their gratitude for the continued support they are given in their roles with the college.\n\nPriscilla Carrasco (admissions advisor) presented Mike with a key to the campus. Mike was made an honorary member of team Temecula and given his own personal Temecula campus badge. Campus Director Robyn Whiles gave Mike and guests a tour of the new campus.\n\nThe campus employees look forward to his next visit to see the <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">RT</a> classroom that is currently under construction open and in full swing with students!', 'Mike Perry Visits Temecula', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12293-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:33:51', '2014-09-25 22:33:51', '', 12293, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12293-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12705, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:20', '2014-09-25 22:34:20', '[caption id="attachment_3037" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Visalia-campus-participates-in-Be-the-Match.jpg"><img class="wp-image-3037 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Visalia-campus-participates-in-Be-the-Match-300x154.jpg" alt="Visalia campus participates in Be the Match" width="300" height="154" /></a> More than 170 students, staff and faculty at SJVC''s Visalia campus registered with City of Hope''s Be the Match Marrow Registry.[/caption]\n\nEvery four minutes someone is diagnosed with cancer – about 12,000 people each year. For far too many of those with blood cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia, the only hope of escaping imminent death is a bone marrow transplant, or blood marrow transfusion. Of the hundreds of thousands hoping to find blood and/or marrow donors, only about 50 percent find a volunteer ''match.''\n\n<a title="Click to learn more about SJVC''s Visalia campus." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia" target="_blank">SJVC’s Visalia campus</a> pulled together to try to save a few more lives. More than 170 students, staff and faculty registered with the City of Hope’s <em>Be the Match Marrow Registry</em> for the chance to give the greatest gift of all – life.\n\n"We have lots of medical students here who participated because they are going into the medical field," says Kerrie Liles, Dean of Students and registration drive organizer. "Everyone that participated felt very proud. You just got the sense that they knew that they could be part of something really big."\n\nDean Liles had spent a month getting the word out, sending emails, putting up posters and going into classrooms to talk to students about the need for marrow donors. Kerrie told them about those so sick that only the very marrow from a human body could provide any promise of continued life. She gave statistics, answered questions and talked about what it meant to register as a donor for <em>Be the Match</em>.\n\nOn August 5th and 6th, Raquel Amezquita and Vivian Abernathy from <em>Be the Match Marrow Registry</em> at the City of Hope in Los Angeles came to the campus to assist with donor registrations, take four cheek swabs (upper/lower, right/left) from participants and explain the process of blood and marrow donation.\n\n"The students and instructors were such a pleasure to work with," says Raquel Amezquita. "They were all so excited about the possibility of saving someone''s life."\n\nOne young RN student knew exactly what becoming a donor was about. Her dad was scheduled to receive a blood marrow infusion the next day. She and five of her fellow classmates went together to register as donors. It was a pretty emotional moment for them, as well as for Raquel and Vivian, as they guided the students through the process.\n\nDonors span the ages of 18-44 and are registered in a world-wide data base of 12-14 million. If a match is made, all blood and bone marrow draws are performed at the City of Hope Hospital in Los Angeles. Donors are compensated for travel expenses, including child care, food, lodging and transportation. For students, the City of Hope also provides a letter to the college Dean requesting that a student’s absence not result in any form of penalty.\n\nThe process of extraction is different depending on whether the cancer patient is an adult or a child. If a donor is matched with an adult patient, the donor is hooked up to a machine that extracts marrow from a blood line from one arm before returning it to the donor through a line in the opposite arm. The process takes a few hours.\n\nIf the donor is matched with a child the process is more intricate. Donors are put under for 60-90 minutes while marrow is extracted from the hip bone. Donors are released after a few hours of observation.\n\nThousands of lives are saved each year, as donors are paired with cancer patients pinning their hopes on the long-shot of a biological match. Over 600,000 potential donors are added to the registry each year – one-third with diverse ancestry – and around 5,800 cancer patients receive a marrow transplant.\n\nIt is important to have donors with diverse ethnic backgrounds, as many patients are of blended races and depend upon <em>Be the Match</em> to have a well-balanced pool of donors.\n\nDonor registration is the first step toward creating those small miracles of connection.\n\n"Everybody has a family member or friend who has been touched by cancer or leukemia, so it’s something everyone can relate to," says Kerrie. "It was powerful and one of the things I’m most proud of being a part of," she says of the <em>Match</em> drive.\n\nThe Visalia campus plans to participate in the <em>Be the Match Registry Drive</em> on a regular basis. Those interested in becoming a donor can order a swab kit at <a title="Click to go to Be the Match''s website." href="http://www.join.bethematch.org/Hope4All" target="_blank">join.bethematch.org/Hope4All</a>.', 'Visalia campus all in with Be the Match Marrow Registry Drive', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '3036-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:20', '2014-09-25 22:34:20', '', 3036, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/3036-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12706, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:20', '2014-09-25 22:34:20', '<img class="alignleft wp-image-2988 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/photo2b1-300x225.jpg" alt="CASSAMT Barbecue" width="300" height="225" />The American Medical Technologists Student Society (AMTSS) on the <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> campus wanted to introduce their families at home to their SJVC family by hosting a BBQ-Potluck held at Plaza Park on June 20<sup>th</sup> from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.\n\nEvent organizers were AMTSS Board members Charles Shelley, President, Tameira Thomas, Vice President and Yer Vang, Secretary, who really know how to throw a party…and lead an energetic crew. They organized about twenty club members who all pitched in to shop for and prepare food, plan games, buy prizes and provide set-up before and clean-up after the event.\n\nAt least thirty family members attended the 3-hour event and finally got to meet some of the people so important to their SJVC student, as they work to complete their medical programs.\n\nStudents prepared a variety of dishes in addition to barbecued hamburgers and hotdogs, including salads, noodles, homemade beans, potato salad, Jell-o cake, cookies and a huge fruit salad. Adults and kids, alike, enjoyed fun games like water balloon toss, pass the sponge and whiffle ball.\n\n“I must say that the memorable moments were the three-legged race and the water balloon toss,” says Sujana De Almeida, <a title="Medical Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Medical Assisting</a> program instructor. “The adults and children had a blast, and enjoyed being squirted with cold water from the balloons, as they burst.”\n\nPlaza Park turned out to be the perfect spot for this fun, food and games get-together.\n\n“It was so great to see students and their families together, having a great time,” says Elisia Sanchez, Student Resource Coordinator.\n\nFamilies from home and from the classroom left the park happy to have made each others’ acquaintance.', 'BBQ brings two families together', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12543-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:20', '2014-09-25 22:34:20', '', 12543, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12543-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12707, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:20', '2014-09-25 22:34:20', '<img class="alignleft wp-image-2928 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IMG_0055b-300x164.jpg" alt="College Bound Bash" width="300" height="164" />SJVC’s <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> campus always does something to make incoming students feel welcome, but on June 12<sup>th</sup> they really rolled out the red carpet…literally. The college’s traditional College Bound Bash went with a <em>Walk the Red Carpet </em>theme and treated incoming students and their friends and family to a spectacular welcome.\n\nA red carpet led to the event entrance and a photo booth had a celebrity backdrop with ‘Golden Globe’ statues. “The whole point of this event was to make incoming students comfortable and help them connect with other students,” says Rebecca Cryer, <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu" target="_blank">SJVC</a> High School Admissions Representative.\n\nThe evening event had lots of games, such as Pictionary and a very competitive water balloon toss to get things going. The winning team was the Medical Turtles, but The Stars and The Dream Team gave them a good run. The Criminal Justice Corrections program even conducted an old fashioned “Who Done It”, complete with crime scene, in a contest for observers to find the murder weapon.\n\nOver 70 attendees got to get a good look at the campus, have some fun, enjoy winning some prizes and sample great food fare from a taco truck. New students also got to visit different booths set up by campus clubs and organizations for future membership consideration.\n\nEvent organizers got a lot of help from the campus’s Connect Crew, a mentor and leadership group that works with incoming students who just graduated from high school.\n\n“The Connect Crew were important to interact here because they are close to the ages of the high school students coming in, and they are a big part of what makes this such a fun event,” says Rebecca.\n\nThe thirteen Crew members are from all programs offered on campus and traditionally speak at Orientations where they explain to incoming students the importance of getting involved in school clubs and activities, striving for good grades and developing good leadership skills.\n\n<em>Walk the Red Carpet </em>was hugely successful. “It was exactly what we wanted,” says Rebecca. “The biggest thing was to make sure that we had interaction between our students and new students coming in. New students told me later that they enjoyed getting to know a few students before their start date and felt a lot more comfortable about starting their programs.”\n\nWhen it comes to a red carpet welcome, the Visalia campus really knows how to roll it out.', 'Incoming students get Red Carpet welcome', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12534-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:20', '2014-09-25 22:34:20', '', 12534, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12534-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12708, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '<img class="alignleft wp-image-2922 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/photo2b-300x193.jpg" alt="Rescue Mission" width="300" height="193" />Father’s Day came a couple of days early for about 90-guests at the Visalia Rescue Mission.\n\nA dozen members of the American Medical Technologists Student Society (AMTSS) on the <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> campus decided they wanted to honor fathers on June 13<sup>th</sup>, who could often be found at noon at the Visalia Rescue Mission and who were, mostly, estranged from their families. The <a title="Medical Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Medical Assisting</a> students made over a dozen desserts – everything from cakes and cookies, to cupcakes and fruit kabobs – and served them, along with a hearty lunch prepared at the Mission to all who came by for a little culinary comfort.\n\n“Guests were so happy and pleased that we thought about them for Father’s Day, and that the MA students had prepared a variety of desserts just for them,” says Sujana De Almeida, MA instructor and AMTSS Club Advisor.\n\nThe students arrived at the Visalia Rescue Mission at 10:00 A.M. that Friday to clean and decorate tables and dot each one with colorful table toppers and candy. As guests came in for lunch, students brought their food out on trays and wished diners a ‘Happy Father’s Day’.\n\nAt the end of the meal, AMTSS members brought around an array of tasty desserts they had worked so hard to make for this occasion. Many appreciative ‘dads’, along with a few women and children, also there for lunch, sampled a few treats.\n\n“We served with a smile and we served with love,” says Sujana.\n\nThere was a particularly special moment for Mrs. De Almeida when one of the Father’s Day guests requested that she offer a prayer before diners began their meal.\n\n“I’ve never prayed in public, and they were all looking at me to see how I was going to react,” says Sujana. “But I was caught up in the moment and believe that God just put those words in my mouth.”\n\nLater, as Sujana was walking around and asking guests how they enjoyed their desserts, demonstrating to students how they might interact as well, when she noticed one gentleman sitting all by himself. He was generous in his praise of their gifts. “I enjoyed the meal and just want to thank you and your students,” he said. “By the way, I’m the one who requested that you say a prayer,” he said.\n\nSujana is very glad he made that request of her. “It gives me chills every time I speak of it,” she says. “It has been such a life-changing experience to serve our brothers and sisters in our community, and have our students participate in this.”\n\nCommunity service is very much a part of being a student at SJVC. It not only benefits the community, it is an important teaching opportunity – a chance for students to see the direct impact they can have on another life, and what that action stirs within them.\n\n“I truly believe our students were inspired and would like to go back and serve again,” says Sujana.\nI want them to inspire their own children because this is something that has to be passed along. I want them to know that there is more joy in giving than receiving.”\n\nMany gifts of heart and spirit were exchanged that day at the Visalia Rescue Mission.', 'A Father’s Day gift lifts spirits', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12536-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12536, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12536-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12709, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '<img class="alignleft wp-image-2901 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/sara-4b-300x213.jpg" alt="DH Students with Pre-Schoolers" width="300" height="213" />“Me, me, me next”, was all <a title="Dental Hygiene program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/dental-hygiene/" target="_blank">Dental Hygiene</a> students Sara Gutierrez and Kylie Cade could hear when a classroom of pre-schoolers got to take turns wearing white pillowcase costumes to look like teeth, with one pink pillow cased student simulating a tongue, while another classmate practiced the skill of flossing between the ‘teeth’ with a length of cord. A large and colorful Styrofoam toothbrush rounded out the visual aids Sara and Kylie brought to fully engage their audience’s ever-ready imaginations.\n\nShouts of “I want to be the tongue next,” came mostly from the little girls “because of the pink pillowcase,” says Sara. Next came one-on-one brushing and flossing practice: one child to one toothy stuffed animal. If you want children to learn about good oral health and hygiene, you have to get them where they live; among their stuffed animal friends.\n\nSara and Kylie were at Muncy Elementary school as part of their <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> campus Dental Hygiene’s Community Outreach project, which is part of their course curriculum.\n\n“In their Community Oral Health class, students choose their own elementary school and go alone or in pairs to provide oral health education to young students,” says Brenda Serpa, DH Program Director. “In their previous Dental Health Education class they created an education piece that they take out into the community as a visual aid to their presentation.”\n\nDental hygiene education for young children is welcomed in the education community and appreciated for its far-reaching positive effects within families.\n\n“Many kids don’t have a toothbrush at home, or they share with a brother or sister,” says Serpa. “That’s why we take those tools – gifts of toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss – with us to school presentations. Our DH students can teach children and demonstrate efficient brushing, while they are using their new toothbrushes on themselves.”\n\nWith two combined classes totaling 40-plus 4-year olds, Sara and Kylie had their hands full. While Sara led the stuffed animal demonstration, Kylie talked about the ‘sugar bugs’ that love to attack little teeth after sweet snacks.\n\nThe Dental Hygiene students used a “Happy Tooth” poster to show the effects of good brushing and nutritional habits and a “Sad Tooth” that demonstrated neglect and ‘sugar bug’ infestation.\n\nA little Q &amp; A session brought interesting confessions from their classroom of enthralled and eager children. “I brush my teeth a hundred times a day,” offered one little boy. “My brother has black teeth,” confessed a little girl. Maybe it was an attack of the ‘sugar bugs’ that got them going.\n\n“I had an amazing time and love working with children,” says Sara. “You have to be a little more patient with them – like with the floss; if parents don’t introduce it to them, they don’t know what it is.”\n\nWhen you multiply the number of students in every Dental Hygiene program by the number of young students in each class they visit – who then go home and share their new knowledge with sibling – a lot of lives are touched in very positive ways.\n\n“When DH students first hear their coursework assignments and realize that they must go out into their community to do this outreach project, they think ‘Oh, that is so much to do,’” says Brenda Serpa. “But, at the end of the semester they talk about what they did, the reaction from the kids and how welcome they were in the classroom; they say they didn’t realize the experience would be so great.”\n\nThe impact these students make on the community can be measured in better health, fewer visits to the dentist and saved teeth. And, maybe more than a few happy smiles.\n\n“We want to make sure that our students know what a difference we make in the community, that getting out there and touching the community in this way is more rewarding than they ever thought.” says Serpa.', 'Big toothy animals go to pre-school', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12532-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12532, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12532-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12710, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '<img class="alignleft wp-image-2867 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/20140509_085824b-300x156.jpg" alt="AMTSS Mother''s Day" width="300" height="156" />Members of the American Medical Technologists Student Society (AMTSS) on SJVC’s <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> campus wanted to provide a service to mothers to commemorate Mother’s Day; one that would both help moms in need and provide a learning opportunity for participating <a title="Medical Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Medical Assisting</a> students.\n\nMA instructor, Sujana De Almeida, suggested they cook lunch for families at Valley Children’s Hospital’s Ronald McDonald House in Madera, and follow that service up with a tour of the hospital. The Ronald McDonald House has 18-bedrooms where families can stay if they have a very sick child being treated at the hospital. Families hosted at the house are only required to perform at least one chore each day during their stay in addition to preparing their own meals.\n\n“Our AMTSS members were very excited at the idea of helping moms and wanted to share the responsibilities they had (at the Ronald McDonald House) while their children were in the hospital,” says De Almeida, who helped organize the field trip for May 9th.\n\nNot only did the sixteen AMTSS club students prepare a wonderful spaghetti and salad lunch for fifty people at the House, they also swept, mopped, dusted and cleaned windows before they left.\n\n“It was such a great feeling seeing everyone pitching in – and all for the opportunity for the families there to be able to spend more time with their child,” says MA student Charles Shelley.\n\nStudent Yer Vang made a beautifully decorated Mother’s Day card out of a tri-fold board, which was signed by all of the AMTSS club members and given to moms staying at the House.\n\nJonathan Munoz from the Ronald McDonald House expressed his gratitude in a note to Yer and SJVC’s service club members. “The group members were willing to help around the house in any capacity and it was great to have all their positive energy in our house as well. We left the card up over the Mother Day weekend so our families could read the message,” wrote Jonathan.\n\nAfter lunch preparation the Club crew went on a tour of Valley Children’s Hospital and got to see first-hand how a hospital devoted to serving children is just a little bit different from the rest.\n\n“All things there are meant for the children,” says MA student Daniel Jackson. “It’s very relaxing with bright colors of art in the ‘kids point o view,’” he says. “It also made me feel that I am a lucky father who has a healthy daughter and son.”\n\nSJVC students were impressed with both the Ronald McDonald House and all it provides to parents who must stay close to their very sick child, and the hospital in the way it surrounds and treats the children in need of their specialized medical services.\n\n“I have to believe that the Ronald McDonald House is just what the parents and families need when they are waiting and wondering about their child’s condition,” says Daniel.\n\nThe attitudes of hospital staff and technological capabilities were equally impressive. “Just to see modern medicine working right in front of my eyes, knowing people working in this lab are saving lives; I was so inspired and grateful to be there that day,” says Charles.\n\nSujana De Almeida emphasizes the level of care provided at Valley Children’s Hospital: “Only very ill children are admitted to this hospital,” says De Almeida. “Our students were really inspired by the nursing staff that shared their knowledge with them and have such compassion.”\n\nMany of the students who left the campus at 8:00 AM that Friday to spend a long day in the service of others, came back more deeply committed to a career in health care – and a life of both professional and personal service.\n\n“I was able to learn many ways that I could volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House,” says Daniel.\n\nSometimes the more you give, the more you get.', 'Mother’s Day gift of service fills many hearts', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12530-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12530, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12530-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12711, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '[caption id="attachment_2358" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2358" title="Roullard and Westling" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/20140331_130904b-300x279.jpg" alt="George the Giraffe" width="300" height="279" /> Linda Roullard &amp; Josh Westling pose with George, the Giraffe.[/caption]\n\nOn March 5<sup>th</sup> SJVC staff, faculty and around 40 <a title="Medical Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Medical Assisting</a>, <a title="Medical Office program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-office/" target="_blank">Medical Office</a> and <a title="Pharmacy Technology program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology/" target="_blank">Pharmacy Technology</a> students from the Visalia campus participated in <i>Kids Day </i>to help raise money for Central California Children’s Hospital. This annual event put over 5,000 volunteers on the streets of local towns to sell the <i>Fresno Bee </i>newspaper to motorists and passersby.\n\nThe goal this year was to raise half a million dollars to support Children’s Hospital and their services and departments, such as the pediatric intensive care unit and oncology program.\n\nWhile last year’s effort raised about $483,000, this year’s goal was surpassed with over $514,000 raised in the valley.\n\n<a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">SJVC Visalia</a> collected $3,000 and earned a third place award in the Colleges and Universities category.\n\n“This was a record for us,” says Eric Lindberg, Division Manager. “We even sold newspapers from another organization that they left our group upon leaving the street corner.”\n\nSJVC volunteers picked four of the busiest intersections in Visalia to hawk their newspapers, and sold a whopping 1,750.\n\nParticipating staff and faculty include:\n\n<b>Eric Lindberg </b>(Division Manager)\n\n<b>            Cecilia Avalos </b>(MOMA Dept.) and <i>Kids Day </i>Event Coordinator for Visalia campus<b>         </b>\n\n<b>            Linda Roullard </b>(MOMA Dept.)\n\n<b>            Sujana DeAlmeida </b>(MOMA Dept.)\n\n<b>            Carlota Reid </b>(MOMA Dept.)\n\n<b>            Nina Lund </b>(MOMA Dept.)\n\n<b>            Melinda Sandoval </b>(MOMA Dept.)\n\n<b>            MaryAnn Cuellar </b>(MOMA Dept.)\n\n<b>            Josh Westling </b>(Respiratory Therapy Dept.)\n\n<b>            Elizabeth Andrade </b>(Pharmacy Tech. Dept.)\n\n<b>            Kathy Self </b>(Pharmacy Tech. Dept.)\n\nCentral California Children’s Hospital held a nice luncheon last week to celebrate the challenge winners. When he received the Third Place award on behalf of SJVC’s contribution, Eric Lindberg quipped, “Now that I know <b>food </b>is involved, next year we’ll beat Fresno State’s $42,000!”', 'Visalia campus helps to break Kids Day record', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12506-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12506, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12506-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12712, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '[caption id="attachment_2348" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2348" title="Jesus Sanchez visits Fernando Deanda" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/20140325_133411b-300x193.jpg" alt="Jesus Sanchez visits Fernando Deanda" width="300" height="193" /> When Jesus witnessed a shocking wreck on his morning commute, he was the first person there to help.[/caption]\n\nIt was 6:40 one Monday morning when <a title="Dental Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/dental-assistant/" target="_blank">Dental Assisting</a> student, Jesus Sanchez, just a few minutes into his 25-minute commute from Farmersville to the <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> campus, was jolted into full alert.  Just ahead of him a SUV and a motorcyclist collided, and the bike rider was briefly airborne.\n\n“It happened real quick, but it seemed like forever, too,” says Jesus. “He swerved his motorcycle to avoid collision, but his body took the brunt of the impact.”\n\nJesus pulled his car between oncoming traffic and the crash victim’s body, which had landed near the side of the road of oncoming traffic. Jesus was first to get to the injured man, and his instinct kicked in.\n\n“I wasn’t aware of making any decisions, my body just responded automatically,” says Jesus.\n\n"It looked really bad,” says Jesus, "especially his right side where he hit the truck.”\n\nThe young man tried to lift his head, and then lay back down. Jesus first checked the victim’s breathing. There was no respiration; he felt no pulse. Jesus sprinted to his car to get his CPR face mask.\n\n“I always keep it in my car like Mrs. Hover (DA instructor) told me to,” says Jesus, who had just completed CPR training the month before, as part of his DA program.\n\nWhile others who stopped their cars were calling 911, Jesus began to perform his newly acquired live-saving skill: thirty compressions, two breaths, thirty compressions, two breaths…then, there was motion. The victim awoke, but could not talk. He nodded in response to Jesus’ question about whether he knew he had been in an accident. He mumbled, then he was back out.\n\n“Don’t fall asleep on me; stay awake; the ambulance is on the way!” Jesus told him. “His body got loose, he was unconscious, and I started CPR again.”\n\nA fire truck got to the site, and a couple of minutes later the ambulance arrived. Jesus was asked to step away. After a few minutes the emergency crew told him that he could leave.\n\nLater that morning Jesus found out from mutual friends that the victim’s name was Fernando Deanda. When Jesus left school that day he decided to go to Kaweah Delta District Hospital to check on him. In the waiting room he met Fernando’s family and friends, some of whom he knew from high school. Fernando was still in surgery and no one knew what the outcome might be.\n\n“Everybody got up and started hugging me when I got there,” says Jesus. “I was there all afternoon, while Fernando had multiple surgeries.”\n\nAs it turned out, Fernando’s right leg was shattered with several breaks and his forearm was broken. But, Fernando had survived because of the life-saving procedure Jesus had performed. It was a fact not lost on Fernando’s family.\n\n“Fernando’s family kept saying that my name (Jesus) was put on me for a reason,” he says. “I felt a lot of appreciation and love from them.”\n\nIt has been a little over a week since Fernando’s accident, and in that time two lives have changed. Fernando, undoubtedly, feels a greater sense of appreciation for the life he nearly lost. And, Jesus feels what it is like to be the perfect person in the perfect place at the perfect time, to save a life. It has renewed his sense of himself.\n\nJesus and Fernando have gotten close, and Fernando’s family has made Jesus part of them. Jesus’ own family, especially his mom, Raquel, is very proud of what he was able to do for someone else. Word of his heroics has gotten around the SJVC campus, too.\n\n“All the teachers from the DA program know about it, and they tell me it takes a lot to stop and do what I did,” says Jesus. “I am thankful I had Mrs. Hover for a teacher and she taught me CPR really good, or I wouldn’t know what to do.”\n\nJesus and his new friend, Fernando, have plans to ride their quads on the dunes at Pismo Beach, once Fernando fully recovers. He is being transferred to a rehabilitation facility where he will undergo intense physical therapy for several more weeks.\n\n“I feel like me and him got connected really well,” says Jesus. “His family sees me like family now.”\n\nA single moment can have an everlasting effect. Just ask Fernando and Jesus.', 'Visalia student saves a life', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12503-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12503, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12503-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(12713, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '[caption id="attachment_2260" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2260" title="Curriculum Conference" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/DSC03325b-300x151.jpg" alt="Curriculum Conference" width="300" height="151" /> The members of the conference meet in the Central Administrative Office.[/caption]\n\nOn Friday, Feb. 7<sup>th</sup> thirty-five <a title="Business Administration program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration/" target="_blank">Business Administration</a> instructors, division managers, technology coaches, staff and students spent a half-day participating in a Curriculum Conference at SJVC’s Central Administration Offices.\n\nThe agenda describes the model: <i>Curriculum conferences are instructor-focused and center on teaching tools and the learning process through the sharing and collaboration of classroom ideas, engagement in professional development opportunities and the creation and evaluation of common curriculum for program assessment.</i>\n\n“The purpose of the conference is to review the tools currently used to teach and assess student learning and make improvements where they are needed,” simplifies Jaimi Paschal, SJVC’s Curriculum Specialist. “The changes are initiated by the BA instructors and benefit students.”\n\nParticipants included a dozen staff and faculty members from other campuses who attended the conference online, via the <i>Go to Meeting </i>chat site.\n\nThe Curriculum Conference (CC) alternates every 18-months with Program Review (PR), another campus-wide meeting intended to review, assess and improve program competencies and student learning outcomes.\n\nFebruary’s conference is the first to include students from the BA program, who had expressed an interest in “having a voice” in their program’s review.\n\n“I had no idea that this think tank was even part of the structure,” says Business Administration student, Betty Eddy. “I saw the concern and determination to basically put us (students) at the forefront. There should be more students involved in this.”\n\nThat is exactly what the Curriculum Conference organizers are thinking. Students are encouraged to talk to a program instructor to volunteer for their program’s next conference.\n\n“It was wonderful to see the student reactions to their experience,” says Sue DeLong, Director of Assessment. “They were so impressed by how much time, attention and concern instructors put into ensuring the program’s curriculum meets the needs and expectations of students.”\n\nThe ideas, instruction methods and teaching experiences shared guide instructors in effective learning techniques and peak interest triggers. “How do we communicate the ‘cool’ factor of the BA program,” the conference agenda challenges.\n\n“We are seeing a lot of action and passion behind our instructors’ efforts,” says Paschal. “Our staff and faculty want things to be the best they can be for our students to succeed.”\n\n“These people are thinking they want us to go looking for a job and the employer sees “SJVC” and they know they have a good candidate,” says Betty. “I have even more faith in my program, as a BA student, than I did when I walked into the conference.”', 'Visalia’s BA program holds Curriculum Conference', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12497-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12497, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12497-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12714, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '[caption id="attachment_2207" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2207" title="Mario Lemus" alt="Mario Lemus" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/mario-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /> From left to right: Jeff Rubio, fellow PA student, Monica Urmson, Assistant to PA Director, and Mario Lemus[/caption]\n\nFive and a half years in the Marine Corps, working as an F-18 jet mechanic, gave Mario Lemus the framework he needed to be a dedicated student. He brought disciplined study habits learned from many military courses, leadership from supervisory positions and the wisdom that comes from adapting to military life and personal circumstances and challenges.\n\n“My military background gave me an advantage,” says Mario. “When I presented myself to the <a title="Physician Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/physician-assistant/" target="_blank">PA</a> program I knew what was expected of me and what I could expect of myself. I felt right at home.”\n\nBut, Mario’s real preparation for a career helping others began many years earlier when, at nine years old, he started to work alongside his parents and older siblings in the fields, migrating from state-to-state as various crops were ready for harvest. He attended many schools and struggled to learn English. His parents made attending school regularly a high priority.\n\n“Anyone going through a harsh position in life gets to appreciate a different perspective,” says Mario. “I was conscious of my social, economic status and knew I would have to further develop myself academically to reach my potential.”\n\nOne of the most important things Mario took away from a childhood filled with both struggle and strong family ties, is an enormous empathy for others. It is what drew him to the military and their code of ‘Honor, Courage and Commitment’.\n\n“In the military I saw a lot of individuals who have this character,” says Mario. “What they do is take care of our nation, take care of our families; they are in the business of helping other people.”\n\nMario’s need for a career that allows him to demonstrate this devotion to the care of others was inspired by his older brother Rafael, who is a general surgeon and his sister Guadalupe, a nurse practitioner.\n\n“We all kind of assessed my skill set, my desire to be involved in the community and my knack for guiding individuals to a better path. We felt the PA path would be a good profession for me.”\n\nMario was surprised to find so many military veterans in the classroom and among faculty. It was reassuring to him. “When I saw so many veterans were part of the program, I decided I was going to be in this program, no matter what it took,” he said.\n\nIn August, 2012 Mario, his wife Roxana and their daughters Liliana, age four, and Jasmine, age two, set out to see his vision come true.\n\nBut weeks into the PA program Mario was struggling.\n\n“I suffer academically; that’s the truth of the matter,” he says. “I have a learning deficit and it’s always something I’ve struggled with.” Mario’s solution is to dig in deeper.\n\n“Mario is the first student here and the last to leave every day,” says Jed Grant, PA Program Director. “He has dedicated his life to serving those around him and it shows in all he says and does.”\n\n“I see other classmates and everybody is trying their hardest,” says Mario. “I don’t feel I’m special, but I do feel I’m surrounded by special people.”\n\nMario cannot go any further without singling out two of those who have helped him the most. At SJVC it is fellow student and Vietnam veteran, Jeff Rubio and Monica Urmson, Assistant to PA Program Director.\n\n“Me and Jeff are both considered the ‘rocks’ of our families and we just ended up finding each other,” says Mario. “He has so many character traits I respect…determination, drive. He is a close friend who inspires and motivates me and is a huge part of my experience here,” he says, his throat catching.\n\nMario is also grateful to Monica for all the support she has given him during his academic low points.\n\n“Monica is my guiding light through a lot of this,” he says. “When you’re not performing academically, you wonder if you belong in this profession. She pushed me and believed in me a lot of times when I questioned myself.”\n\nMario also wants to mention his PA instructor, Aundrey Sidoreinko, who “gave me direction in which I could focus and aim my efforts.”\n\nBut, no one was as steadfast as his support team at home. Roxana, a middle school teacher, made sure that Mario felt the full force of her confidence in him.\n\n“I stand here because she supports me spiritually, emotionally, financially,” says Mario who graduates in August.\n\nNo matter how difficult it gets, Mario does not lose sight of the goal.\n\n“I am a mirror of values, character, leadership and so many other qualities of people who have made an impact on me,” says Mario. “I emulate these qualities out of respect for them and only want to know that what I do in my life is reflected in the people I have helped.”', 'The U.S. Marine Corps clears a path for Physician Assistant student', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12489-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12489, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12489-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12715, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2073" title="SJVC Visalia Campus Christmas Stars" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/SJVC-Visalia-Campus-Christmas-Stars-300x225.jpg" alt="SJVC Visalia Campus Christmas Stars" width="300" height="225" />The Christmas spirit was in full play on the <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> campus in two big ways.\n\nThe Christmas Star Project, sponsored by Student Services, helped children of SJVC students in financial need to have a little more joyful Christmas. Stars with a child’s name, interests, hobbies and clothing size were hung high in hopes a staff or faculty member would ‘adopt’ them and provide a toy and clothing item to brighten their holiday.\n\nA total of 109-children from 46-families were adopted and received gifts from generous SJVC employees. “We wanted to make sure that the children from our SJVC family could have a memorable Christmas,” says Elisia Sanchez, Student Resource Coordinator.\n\nHoliday activities culminated with the 2013 Children’s Christmas Party, hosted by Student Services on Dec. 20th.\n\nOver 155 children of SJVC’s family of employees and students enjoyed meeting Santa, face-painting, crafts, story time, raffle prizes and – best of all – a photo op with Santa, himself. Each child won a raffle toy and took home a goodie bag filled with treats. Toys were provided by campus clubs that held fundraisers such as bake sales and dress-down days, along with donations from local stores.\n\n“Our holiday events are very much appreciated by our students and their children, who also enjoy visiting their parents’ school,” says Elisia.\n\nIn addition, six live Christmas trees were decorated and raffled off, through the efforts of SJVC’s ENACTUS Club.\n\n“We wanted to give our students and their families a place where they, too, can share in the tradition of Christmas,” says Elisia.', 'Visalia’s Giving Spirit of Christmas', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12469-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12469, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12469-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12716, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '[caption id="attachment_2058" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2058" title="Repairs in progress" alt="Repairs in progress" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/HVAC-Trainer2-300x230.jpg" width="300" height="230" /> This new training system will provide current and future HVAC students with easily tailored and specific repair scenarios.[/caption]\n\nDuring the last 2-weeks of the<a title="Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration/" target="_blank"> Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning-Refrigeration</a> program, seniors participate in a test-out of hands-on procedures that review everything they have learned during the previous 14-months. The <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> program has many A/C and heating units on which they might be tested, but students about to graduate wanted to up the ante with a more intensive trial.\n\n“They were clamoring to get their knuckles bruised, turn the wrenches and use all of the nuts and bolts to troubleshoot unit malfunctions,” says Division Manager, Eric Lindberg. “So, Josh Debrie and Robby Gill, our very enterprising HVAC-R instructors, challenged their students to create a simulated –trainer board, which could take them through a variety of potential break-down and repair scenarios.”\n\nWith new technology constantly emerging, the use of computer simulated trainers in the career college industry is prevalent – and often cost-prohibitive. Virtual trainers are tools that come with the curriculum and are operated through a computer in a virtual environment. The beauty of a trainer board is that it can be reconfigured to present any number of fix-it issues with the electrical, refrigeration, heating and A/C components.\n\n“Our HVAC instructors looked around and saw all of the components needed to build our own trainer board,” says Lindberg. Those parts included a compressor, condenser coils, electrical panels, valves, gauges and other components that would test everything on one board. Robby Gill states, “We could configure it to trouble-shoot many different unit issues.”\n\nThe instructors challenged their senior class to design and build the board for their Capstone project – the last hands-on assessments they would perform before entering the work world.\n\nIt took the seniors a couple of weeks to create their trainer, completely from scratch.\n\n“The new trainer board puts HVAC students through intensive and creative hands-on problem-solving, and gives instructors an innovative way to measure student skill levels,” says Gill.\n\nIn addition to acing their Capstone project, graduating seniors have created a valuable learning tool and an instruction legacy that will serve many generations of HVAC-R classes to come.', 'HVAC senior students think ‘Legacy’', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12467-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12467, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12467-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12717, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '[caption id="attachment_2010" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2010" title="The Race Against Hunger" alt="The Race Against Hunger" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_7876b-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /> Staff from SJVC Visalia joined thousands of other runners in Visalia''s Race Against Hunger.[/caption]\n\nAlmost 70 <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">SJVC Visalia</a> Corporate and campus staff, faculty and students postponed Thanksgiving preparations that Thursday morning to join about 3,000 runners, 2,000 walkers and 280 kids in the Visalia Emergency Aid Council’s <i>Race Against Hunger</i>.\n\n“The energy from the event was amazing!” says Lori Jeffcoach, DA instructor. “It was so much fun; and I think this event will definitely become a tradition for me and my family.”\n\nTwenty-five Physician Assistant program students, along with various other programs’ students, solicited sponsors for their race that helped raise funds for this event.\n\nFor nine years the 5k run has been VEAC’s largest event, and provides funds to support those in need in the Visalia community. This year’s race netted approximately $80,000 – almost $10,000 more than last year.\n\n“All the money raised at this event gets us through the holidays and through June and July”, says Iris East, VEAC Director.\n\nEighty-two years in business, the Visalia Emergency Aid Council is the largest and oldest food bank in Tulare County and provides emergency services for over 14,000 families each year. Their primary mission is to feed, clothe and give shelter to families with children and to provide a means for others to help those in need. Their food pantry assists over 1,000 families each month, by providing nutritional food, and their VEAC Thrift Store provides free or low-cost clothing, household goods and reconditioned furniture and appliances.\n\nMonica Urmson, Assistant to <a title="Physician Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/physician-assistant/" target="_blank">Physician Assistant</a> Program Director, has been working with the VEAC for about 20-years. “I was taught by my family that no one should ever go without food – especially a child,” she says. Involving Monica’s whole family was important to her to not only help those less fortunate, but to instill in her kids the importance of helping others. “My children have helped out with food and toy distribution, and working the race since they were little.”\n\nSan Joaquin Valley College has been a strong supporter of the Visalia Emergency Aid Council for over twenty years and is proud of their staff and students for the years of enthusiasm and effort they have contributed.\n\nThe races on Thanksgiving morning didn’t make a huge demand on the thousands of participants. “The race started at 8:00 AM, and I was home basting the turkey a half-hour later,” says Monica. Her family’s Thanksgiving Day likely felt just a little more blessed.', 'SJVC Visalia Races Against Hunger', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12461-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12461, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12461-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12718, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1937" title="The Criminal Justice Team" alt="The Criminal Justice Team" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/DSC_5962-copy-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" />Visalia campus <a title="Criminal Justice: Corrections program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/criminal-justice-corrections/" target="_blank">Criminal Justice</a> students got to mix it up with about 250 other Region 1 CJ students from California, Hawaii, Idaho, Washington, Nevada and Oregon this Oct. at their annual Criminal Justice Fraternity conference held this year in Rancho Cordova.\n\nThe 3-day conference was broken down into registration and mixer, fierce competition courses and, on the third day, guest speakers and an awards banquet.\n\nThe Lambda Alpha Epsilon is a Criminal Justice Fraternity was started to improve the criminal justice system through educational activities that might foster professionalism and promote higher education and professional training. The annual regional conference is organized by the National American Criminal Justice Association/LAE.\n\nVisalia’s six CJ students were ready to rumble when it came to the academic and physical challenges of the competition, which included a physical agility course, shooting skills (rifle and handgun), CSI competition, and four written exams. Attending students and instructor were:\n<ul>\n	<li>Michael Acosta</li>\n	<li>Brenda Ramos</li>\n	<li>Eloisa Lopez</li>\n	<li>Guadalupe Romero</li>\n	<li>Adrian Perez</li>\n	<li>Victoria Whitendale</li>\n	<li>Laura Lathrop (CJ instructor)</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n<a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">SJVC Visalia</a> cadet Michael Acosta scored a First Place trophy in the Juvenile Law exam and CJ instructor and Club Advisor, Laura Lathrop, got into the action, as well, with a Second Place medal for the Age 43-50 Physical Agility course.\n\n“The experience was fantastic,” says CJ student Michael Acosta. “We made memories that will last forever. We made friends from all over who also shared the interest and passion in the criminal justice system.”\n\nOver 500 schools are members of the American Criminal Justice Association and CJ students and graduates everywhere are already gearing up for the national conference to be held in Kansas City, Missouri next March.\n\n“These conferences are great networking opportunities for our students who can meet other students, as well as graduates who are now in the CJ field,” says Laura Lathrop. “They can look at them and say, ‘I could do that’, or ‘I never thought about this as a job,’” she says.\n\nConferences are a great way for students to hone their knowledge and skills and come back with a little better idea of where they might want to direct their talents.', 'CJ students throw down at regional conference', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12450-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:21', '2014-09-25 22:34:21', '', 12450, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12450-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12719, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:33', '2014-09-25 22:34:33', '&nbsp;\n\n[caption id="attachment_1931" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1931  " title="Physician Assistant Week" alt="Physician Assistant Week" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Cropped_photo2-300x206.jpg" width="300" height="206" /> The Visalia Campus took time to honor those who had served, and continue to serve.[/caption]\n\nIn early November, a special Veteran’s Day ceremony was held at SJVC <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a>, honoring  U.S. military veterans who attended the school’s <a title="Physician Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/physician-assistant/" target="_blank">Physician Assistant Program</a>.\n\nNotable attendees included Stewart Anderson, attending on behalf of California Assembly representative Connie Conway, and Bob Sachs, California Physician Assistant Board President.\n\nA considerable number of veterans are enrolled in the program, but this is hardly surprising given the profession’s history. The first Physician Assistant class at Duke University in 1965 consisted mostly of former U.S. Navy corpsmen.\n\nSachs took the time to explain that many military medics, veterans of the Vietnam War, had returned home to find few job prospects, despite the medical skills granted by military service. It was with this in mind that the early P.A. programs were created: to prevent the squandering of the talents of veterans.\n\n“Most of the faculty are veterans,” explains Jed Grant, faculty member. This even includes Don Wright, Visalia SJVC Campus Director. An Annapolis graduate, he served in the Navy for 30 years, flying over 200 combat missions in Vietnam, until eventual receiving his own command. Now, he manages a campus where fellow veterans can learn the skills they need to join the civilian workforce as medical personnel.\n\nThe highlight of the day was the presence of veterans from every major American conflict since the Second World War. There were veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.  Among these soldiers was Ben Hagams, a courier from the U.S. Army deployed to the Pacific Theater in WWII. Acceding to the wishes of all present, Hagams approached the podium and gave a short speech, detailing his experience in the war.\n\nAs a messenger, he was captured by the Japanese and sent to a P.O.W. camp, but not before many of his fellow prisoners fell ill and died in the poor conditions. When he was finally rescued, he weighed only 56 pounds. He was sent back to an American military hospital, where he stayed for a year and a half, until he fully recovered.\n\n“I have nothing but praise for the military and its nurses and doctors,” said Hagams.\n\nSJVC is thankful for the service of its veterans, and the service they will continue to provide as graduates of the Physician Assistant Program. A mere weekend before Veteran’s day, respect was owed.\n\n“This is our community, “said student Mario Lemus. “This is what we represent.”', 'Visalia Campus honors veterans in the Physician Assistant Program', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12449-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:33', '2014-09-25 22:34:33', '', 12449, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12449-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12720, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:33', '2014-09-25 22:34:33', '[caption id="attachment_1679" align="alignleft" width="391"]<img class=" wp-image-1679   " title="Program Director Barry Westling" alt="Program Director Barry Westling" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Screen-Shot-2013-09-12-at-3.49.53-PM.png" width="391" height="451" /> Mr. Westling himself - sporting the bow tie![/caption]\n\nVisalia’s Respiratory Therapy Program Director, Barry Westling, has always stood out from the crowd. His iconic bow tie makes him immediately recognizable on campus – particularly by new <a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> students seeking him out.\n\n“I know it’s a somewhat different style from a different era, but it’s something I enjoy for myself,” says Mr. Westling, who owns over 40 bow ties and can quickly demonstrate the art of whipping the short length of cloth into perfect shape.\n\nRecently, Barry Westling acquired yet another fine distinction when he was accepted into the Fellowship program of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), a national organization with approximately 52,000 members.\n\nThe AARC encourages and promotes professional excellence, advances the science and practice of respiratory care, and serves as an advocate for patients and their families, the public, the profession and respiratory therapists. An AARC Fellow is a Respiratory Therapist who is recognized to have reached a level of distinction in professional practice and who has made sustained contributions on a national level. Very few AARC members are nominated and even fewer attain Fellowship status.\n\n“To be included among a list of such prestigious individuals is truly awe-inspiring,” says Mr. Westling, who was a first-time nominee.\n\n“Fellows of the AARC (FAARC) are considered to be career professionals at the ‘top of their game’ and serve as role models for respiratory therapists nationwide,” says Patrick Dunne, MEd, RRT, FAARC and Chairperson for the AARC Fellowship Selection Committee\n\nBarry Westling has many accomplishments and accolades, which made him an ideal candidate for fellowship consideration. In his professional capacity he has submitted questions for the National Board for Respiratory Care credentialing exams, served as Delegate to the AARC House of Delegates, represented Calif. to the national AARC organization, acted as New Terms consultant for Stedman’s Medical Dictionary for Allied Health and made major curriculum contributions to SJVC’s first A.S. degree program and Advanced Level RT program, to name just a few.\n\nInductions into the FAARC will take place at the annual AARC Awards Ceremony on Nov. 16 at the Anaheim Convention Center.\n\n“Recognition as a Fellow is wonderful and humbling, but my years of service to students, patients, the college, and my profession are my true reward,” says Westling, who celebrates his 30<sup>th</sup> year with SJVC this month.\n\nMr. Westling hopes his professional accomplishments might guide students toward their own service to their professional community.\n\n“There is a great need in the Central Valley to instill in students the importance of participation in professional societies through membership, meeting attendance and professional event participation,” says Westling. “Top leaders in our field are just regular people who step up to volunteer.”\n\nBarry Westling has been a clear leader in his field and a true inspiration to his students. His entire 2012 RT graduating class demonstrated their respect and admiration for him by donning bow ties for their graduation ceremony. Theirs was a special tribute to a humble man deserving of many, it seems.', 'Respiratory Therapy Program Director earns professional distinction', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12426-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:33', '2014-09-25 22:34:33', '', 12426, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12426-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12721, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1629" style="border: 1px solid black; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px;" title="SJVC Physician''s Assistant Program Grant Birthday Wish" alt="SJVC Physician''s Assistant Program Grant Birthday Wish" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Birthday-Wish-PA-Visalia-RESIZED.jpg" width="167" height="227" />When Visalia <a title="Physician''s Assistant Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/physician-assistant" target="_blank">Physician Assistant</a> student Frances Robinson saw an ABC news story about Emma Ritter, whose only wish was to get 100 birthday cards sent to her Valley Children’s Hospital room for her 7th birthday, she knew she had to help make that happen.\n\n“It would be a small gesture, but one that would help to make her wish a reality,” says Frances.\n\nThen Frances took another step. She bought enough cards for her entire PA class of 22 students to sign…and things took off! Word got around that Frances was going to hand-carry the birthday cards and birthday balloons to Emma at the Fresno hospital where she was being treated for cystic fibrosis.\n\n“Classmates came to me with donations and, before I knew it, we had enough money for balloons, two small gifts and a Toys R Us gift card!” A few PA students also volunteered to help deliver the bounty and well-wishes from their class.\n\nThe <a title="SJVC Visalia Campus " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia" target="_blank">Visalia</a> PA students are particularly interested in helping someone like Emma because cystic fibrosis is something they will undoubtedly treat throughout their health care careers.\n\nCystic fibrosis is an inherited and chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. A defective gene causes the body to produce mucus that clogs the lungs and can lead to life-threatening infections, while it also obstructs the pancreas, which causes difficulty in food absorption.\n\nEmma’s parents, Lisa and Matt, had set up a Facebook page about Emma’s birthday wish and that, combined with the news program about their young daughter’s wish, threw them all into the media spotlight. As grateful as they were for the public’s interest in their little girl’s health struggles and upcoming birthday, they were also a little overwhelmed.\n\nFrances called the hospital to ask permission to drop off the cards and balloons at hospital reception, but once a nurse heard what SJVC students had done, Frances’s call was transferred to Emma’s mom, Lisa.\n\n“We were honored that Lisa invited us to meet with Emma when we came to the hospital,” says Frances.\n\nOn Emma’s birthday, SJVC’s PA students arrived at the hospital to find the front desk turning away groups of people, but our students were taken to a play area where Emma, dressed as a princess, was playing miniature golf with her family.\n\n“She was all smiles,” says Frances, “and her parents were so thankful to us for doing this for Emma.” Though energetic and excited to open her gifts, Emma was clearly a patient.\n\n“I didn’t know what state of health she would be in,” says PA student Shawn Luna. “She was playing outside in the hospital courtyard while hooked to an IV pole.”\n\n“I am proud that our class was able to be a part of Emma’s special day,” says Frances. “As PA students, we’re learning all there is to know about disease, but we cannot learn about how they affect real lives and families until we experience moments like meeting Emma.”\n\nPA students returned with the family to Emma’s room, which was alive with colorful birthday cards from all over the world. <a title="San Joaquin Valley College " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/" target="_blank">SJVC</a> students’ cards seemed to fit right in with the enthusiastic well-wishes from others who also heard a little girl’s voice asking for just a bit of extra love and attention for a special day happening during a difficult time.\n\n“It was heart-warming to see a happy, lovely young girl overwhelmed with joy seeing people (strangers) visit and care about her,” says Linda Hudson, one of the PA students visiting Emma.\n\n"We are so very proud of the class of 2014''s compassion for others and service to the community,” says Les Howard, PA Program Director. “That has to come from the heart; it’s not something they learn in a book."\n\n“I was grateful to have a small part in celebrating her birthday,” says Shawn. “And, I hope she got her wish of 100 birthday cards. I don’t think she would mind if she hadn’t,” he says. “Her lively spirit, her optimistic family and joyous presence left me thankful and hopeful.”\n\nAt last count, Emma received over 10,000 cards wishing her the very best birthday ever.', 'PA Students help grant a special Birthday Wish', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12418-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12418, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12418-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12722, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Enrique-Loza.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-1215" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Enrique-Loza.jpg" alt="Enrique Loza" width="256" height="256" /></a>Enrique Loza has crammed a lot of life into his 22-years. He worked part-time for a convenience store throughout high school, while he juggled studies and thought about college. “Everyone in my family – brother, sisters and my mom – has gone to college,” says Enrique.\n\nBut plans took a detour when just out of high school Enrique and his now wife, Saliena, found out their son, Aadyn was on the way. Enrique went to work for a local Hanford dairy, doing ‘outside labor’ for 60-hours a week. He buckled down.\n\nThe hard-earned income allowed his family to buy a house. “When my real estate agent heard I was only 20-years old, he said, ‘Whoa, you’re young,’” he laughed. “But I knew that houses were really at a low price, and with my work experience I qualified for credit. Now my house is worth $30,000 more than when I bought it,” says Enrique. The house was a good move – especially since their daughter, Aalyna, joined the family a few months ago.\n\nBut, college was never too far from his mind, and Enrique and Saliena had a deal. When she finished her Medical Assisting training, it would be his turn to go back to school. That was finally possible in October, 2012, when Enrique enrolled in the <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a> campus’s <a title="Industrial Technology" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/industrial-technology/">Industrial Technology</a> program. Enrique’s older brother, Heriberto, had graduated from the IT program a few months earlier and encouraged him to do the same.\n\nEnrique knew his brother was right when he got to Mr. Clyde’s class. “He makes sure that we get everything in our heads, that we actually learn something,” says Enrique, who especially likes the hands-on action in class. “He’s not just there for a paycheck,” he says. “He even gives us little McDonald’s gift certificates out of his own pocket, which makes us try even harder.” But, Enrique doesn’t need much motivation to work hard; it has been his natural characteristic all his young life.\n\nEnrique is still working those 60-hour weeks; his only day off is Saturdays. He very much misses time with his family. “My boy is three; growing up so fast,” he says. “Ever since high school, I’ve been working so much to have more time with my family.” He has felt both desperation and inspiration along the way.\n\nIt is all about to change. “I have the work experience and now I’ll have the education to back me up and give me that extra punch on my resume,” says Enrique. He is ready for the new life ahead.\n\nLike the mature-before-his-years guy he is, Enrique sums it up best. “I want to do better in life. I don’t want to just be alive…I want to live.” He has earned it.', 'A Few Years, a Lot of Life', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12381-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12381, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12381-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12723, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/SJVC-Facebook-Tshirts.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1204" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/SJVC-Facebook-Tshirts-290x290.jpg" alt="SJVC Facebook Tshirts" width="290" height="290" /></a><a title="SJVC" href="http://sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>’s new motivational t-shirts have proven popular among students and sales are going great. The t-shirts, with messages of commitment, inspiration, humor and insight are showing up on dress-down days, and $1.00 per shirt proceeds are helping a different campus with a project or cause each month.\n\nContributions from sales this month will help the <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a> campus get to their $6,000 goal they want to contribute to the Central Valley March of Dimes. Dental Assisting instructor and campus March of Dimes Committee Chair, Lori Jeffcoach, is excited to have another fundraising effort underway. “We do bake sales, dress-down days, walk-a-thons and other food sales all year long to try to meet our goal,” says Jeffcoach.\n\nThe Visalia campus has been a long-term supporter of the Central Valley March of Dimes. “I think they do a great job saving lives out there and preventing premature births,” says Lori.\n\nVisalia students have been great about supporting efforts to help the March of Dimes. “Our food sales are really successful,” says Lori. “Our campus is a little isolated, so we don’t have a lot of lunch or food sources close by,” she says. “And, it’s very touching to see the amount of good we have in our students, who often tell us to keep the change or make a $5.00 donation when they buy our food,” says Lori.\n\nThis year’s fundraising is off to a good start with $3,400 already collected since January. “We would love to surpass our goal of $6,000 this year,” says Lori. “We’re off to a good start.”\n\nThe next big event to raise funds for the Central Valley March of Dimes is a Visalia campus walk-a-thon scheduled for April 27<sup>th</sup>. “We already have 58-students signed up to walk, and 3-students have already given us over $300 in pledges,” says Jeffcoach.\n\nEveryone can help the Visalia campus to reach their fundraising goal by buying a t-shirt before the end of April. Browse the selections at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SJVCs/app_515661228485859">the SJVC Store</a>.  T-shirts can be purchased for $6.00, using Paypal or a credit card on SJVC’s Facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sjvcs">www.facebook.com/sjvcs</a>.  There is no charge for shipping if you pick up your purchase at your campus Student Center; otherwise it is $4.00 to send it elsewhere. SJVC is selling the T-shirts to you at cost – plus a dollar donation to a fellow campus.\n\nLast month the Online campus received $158 from t-shirt sales, which they contributed to their campus Student Support Fund. Next month (May), Hesperia will be the campus to benefit from t-shirt sales.', 'Visalia Campus Benefits From April T-shirt Sales', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12380-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12380, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12380-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12724, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Visalia-New-Year-Scholarships.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1133" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Visalia-New-Year-Scholarships-290x290.jpg" alt="Visalia New Year Scholarships" width="290" height="290" /></a>Fourteen students at SJVC’s <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/" target="_blank">Visalia</a> campus were proud recipients of <i>2013 New Year, New Career </i>scholarships. “I had to quit my job to be able to attend SJVC full-time and I was concerned about making ends meet,” says Christa Cunningham, <a title="Respiratory Therapy program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/" target="_blank">Respiratory Therapy</a> student and scholarship recipient. “This scholarship was very helpful to me, because it allows me to focus completely on getting my degree and doing well in my program, without the added worry of finances."\n\nThe scholarship program was introduced in July, 2012 as a way to celebrate 2013’s first start date and benefit some of those students beginning their new career path. Over subsequent months, Visalia Admissions Teams earned scholarship funds with each new student enrolled who was scheduled to start on January 28<sup>th</sup>. All of those students were encouraged to apply for a scholarship, which ranged in value from $500 to $1,500.\n\nThe <i>2013 New Year, New Career </i>scholarship program generated a lot of excitement among Admissions Teams, as they built the award fund to $8,400.\n\nA selection committee, comprised of SJVC staff and faculty, chose scholarship award recipients based primarily upon student responses to two essay questions on their applications. Student responses helped the committee to better understand the goals, obstacles and determination those students held for their successful college experience.\n\nScholarship recipients received a tuition credit in their first academic year at SJVC for the award amount. Those 14-students are:\n\nPrisilla Garcia-Ramos, Health Care Administration\nCynthia Guerrero, Medical Assisting\nJonathan Hernandez, Industrial Technology\nChristina Patala, Medical Assisting\nKristine Ramirez, Medical Assisting\nNoelia Ramirez, Medical Assisting\nAmanda Robles, Business Administration\nAshley Washington, Medical Assisting\nVanessa Vasquez, Medical Assisting\nSara Brittsan, Respiratory Therapy\nJamie Cornstock, Respiratory Therapy\nEdgar Gonzalez, Medical Assisting\nAlyssa Stephens, Medical Assisting\nChrista Cunningham, Respiratory Therapy', '2013 New Year, New Career Scholarships', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12371-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12371, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12371-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12725, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a title="Visalia Campus" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-864" title="tab1" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/tab1-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>Tabitha Lanning enjoys many meaningful family traditions with her grandparents, parents and three siblings – but a college degree was not one of them. She is happy to have pushed herself to be the first.\n\nHaving earned her B.S. in Kinesiology at Humboldt University in 2007 and spent a few years working in a medical environment, Tabitha set her sights on <a title="Physician Assistant " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/physician-assistant/">SJVC’s Physician Assistant program </a>in <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia </a>to take her ‘first’ even higher. “It’s not just being first to do it, but it’s important for me to learn and to participate in this field and to better support my family,” she says. Tabitha’s husband, Josh, is a paramedic, so a shared life in medicine seems natural.\n\nThere have been family hardships along the way. “I missed seeing my daughter receive an award during a school assembly and taking my son to his first day of pre-school,” says Tabitha. “Josh is Mr. Mom and pretty much takes care of the kids, house, and cooks and cleans,” she says. But 5-year old, Brynn, and 2-year old Zane will enjoy a more comfortable life for the sacrifices their parents are making right now.\n\nTabitha has committed herself to the requirements of her PA program – one of which is volunteerism. As Class President, she is responsible for organizing charitable events and PA student participation.  Competing for the national Student Society Award, set her class on fire in their efforts to do all they could to support community events, one of the award criteria. From Sept., 2012 until Jan. 15<sup>th</sup> all 24 of the PA students participated in most of 28-events, including Visalia Emergency Aid Toy Drive, Kids Fairs, Heart Walks, Visalia Parenting Network and National Rural Health Day. “We wanted to have a big impact on the community and help as many people – especially kids – as we could,” says Tabitha.\n\nTabitha was a driving force. “Mrs. Lanning’s work in the community and student leadership is exemplary and she serves as a role model for others in her class,” says PA Program Director Les Howard.\n\nAlthough, it is possible that Tabitha may be better known by classmates for another unique skill.  In response to a request by her Adult Medicine instructor for a volunteer to mimic the sound of an infant’s croup, Tabitha stepped forward and emitted a seal-like bark. “My kids and I like to play a game of making animal noises,” she says.\n\nIt looks as though Tabitha is starting two new enduring family traditions.', 'PA Student Is First In Family To Complete College', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12354-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12354, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12354-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12726, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Maryna.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-734 alignleft" title="Maryna" alt="" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Maryna-290x290.jpg" width="290" height="290" /></a>Maryna Roy came to the U.S. in 2010 from the Ukraine where she met and married her husband Michael who, as a member of the Army National Guard, was there with army buddies in 2009 on a break from their tour in Iraq.\n\nMaryna had earned a Master’s Degree in Management of Organization and worked as an Office Manager for several years. But she wanted additional education so she could combine her office administration experience with hands-on patient care. The problem: she knew her limited English language proficiency could make the classroom experience very difficult.\n\n“I knew I needed to keep up with other students, especially in English language classes,” says Maryna. “I had no choice, so I did extra reading and writing until it got easier and easier.” Medical terminology was especially difficult to master, but she was determined to overcome any language barriers.\n\nHer inspiration was her teacher, Sujanalatha De Almeida, who also came to the U.S. from another country. All along the way her teacher and mentor encouraged her and gave her confidence in herself. “She would tell me, ‘You’re doing great, you’re awesome, you’re smart,’” she says.\n\nMaryna is appreciative of all the support she got from her teachers and advisors. Mrs. De Almeida feels that Maryna is a source of inspiration to other students, as well. “I was impressed by Maryna’s dedication to her education,” she says. “She went through some challenging times, but never gave up.”\n\nOne of those challenges was Maryna’s fear of needles. She dreaded performing a venipuncture and was greatly relieved when her first attempt was successful. “It made me feel that it’s the right place for me; a really good feeling,” she says.\n\nMaryna still made time for community volunteer work, including Hats for Hope, Visalia Rescue Mission events, Kid’s Day, Tulare County College Night and Constitution Day, while continuing educational opportunities such as Preconception Peer Educator Training (CSUF) and medical educational seminars.\n\nMaryna gives full credit to Michael, who has supported her throughout her return to college.\n\n“He let me go to school and I didn’t have to go to work, so there was no excuse for me to be a bad student,” she says. Although Maryna has had to leave her family behind, she feels as though Michael’s family welcomed her like a daughter. “His family became my family,” she says. And, somewhere, she knows her parents and younger sister are feeling some pride in her success, as well.<strong> </strong>\n\nMaryna just got the news that her extern site wants her to come to work as a Medical Assistant after she graduates. She is on her way and loving all of it.', 'Student Overcomes Language Barrier to Succeed', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12353-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12353, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12353-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(12727, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/sairapic1.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-567" title="sairapic" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/sairapic1-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="258" height="271" /></a> Saira Javid’s health struggles meant she spent a lot of time in a medical environment, the recipient of someone else’s empathetic care. She got a close-up view of how she wanted to spend her professional life. “When I was born, I was made for this work,” says Saira. Her aspirations were to be a doctor, but, she didn’t know quite how to get there from here.\n\nSaira decided to move cautiously and after earning her A.S. degree from Reedley Community College she enrolled in SJVC’s <a title="Medical Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/">Clinical Medical Assisting </a>certificate program in <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a>. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she may have underestimated herself and her natural ability to absorb and implement her medical coursework.\n\n“I very quickly fell in love with what I’m doing,” she says and admits that, although there are a lot of new things to learn, her affinity for the material allows her to easily handle coursework. In fact, she has lifted her sights toward the college’s Physician Assistant program, which she hopes to enter after a few years of Medical Assisting practice.\n\nA very special moment was when one of her instructors told her, in front of the whole class, how proud she was of Saira and suggested that other students use Saira as a model for successful student behavior. Since then, Saira often tutors other CMA students, particularly in math and English classes.\n\n“It is important for me to help others,” she says. “One of the reasons I chose to be in the medical field is to always give assistance to someone who needs it.”\n\nSaira’s husband, Tamir, has been her strongest supporter through the ups and downs of her health and her desire for a career in medicine. Her parents, Mohammad and Parween, have been her greatest inspiration.\n\n“My Dad always tells me, ‘Don’t live just for yourself, but to benefit others, too,’” she says. “My parents believe in me and tell me, ‘Go out there and make your dream come true.’”\n\nSaira is well on her way with her 4.0 GPA, the respect of her teachers and fellow students, encouragement from her family and her own sense of purpose.\n\nSaira says she is falling in love with medicine. “The more I learn, the more I want to learn,” she says. At 25-years old, she has a lifetime to fuel that desire.', 'Instincts Guide CMA Student Toward Perfect Career Fit', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12336-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12336, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12336-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12728, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Daniel-Ruiz1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-553" title="Daniel Ruiz" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Daniel-Ruiz1-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>Daniel Ruiz had two primary goals when he enrolled in SJVC’s <a title="Respiratory Therapy" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/respiratory-therapy/">Respiratory Therapy </a>program on the Visalia campus almost 18-months ago:  Get straight A’s and have a job interview lined up by the time he graduated. Check. And check.\n\nNot only did Daniel maintain a 4.0 GPA and make the Dean’s List each semester but, as his program comes to completion, he has already had two interviews with a Fresno hospital – and things are looking good for him to land his first position as a Respiratory Therapist.\n\n“Hopefully, I’ll have a job right out of school,” says Daniel. “I hope I did well enough to get my first job.”\n\nDaniel’s background in medicine put him in a good position to do well in the RT program. He had already graduated from CSUF with a BS degree and had been working in a physical therapy clinic for the last four years. He knew he wanted a position in the medical field that gave him more patient contact.\n\n“I didn’t really know what Respiratory Therapy was all about until I started the program,” says Daniel. “I was just feeling a push to get deeper into the medical field,” he says. It turned out to be a good fit for him and a career that would provide the life he and his wife, A.J., wanted.\n\n“A.J. really helped out by just being there and making life good,” he says.\n\nDaniel kept his job for the first year while attending classes, but the Monday through Thursday schedule and commute from Fresno didn’t leave him much time. As it was, he cut it pretty close with a 6:55 AM wake-up and 7:05 AM exit from home to make the 8:00 AM class. A.J. was his greatest supporter and worked full-time to help make it happen\n\nTheir future looks bright with possibilities for Daniel to reach even higher.\n\n“There are lots of opportunities down the road,” he says. “I want to start off by moving up the different levels of an RCP and later in my career possibly get into management, or some kind of teaching role to help the up-and-coming therapists; all of it appeals to me,” Daniel says.\n\nAfter a pretty intense 18 months, Daniel’s goals are pretty simple. “I just want to start a career and make some money.”', 'Student Successful Due To Background In Medicine', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12334-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12334, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12334-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12729, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Bloom-46.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-526" title="Bloom-46" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Bloom-46-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="249" height="238" /></a>It was five long years from the time Andrew (AJ) Bloom first decided to become a <a title="Physician Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/physician-assistant/">Physician Assistant </a>until he actually enrolled in the <a title="Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a> campus’s PA program. It wasn’t procrastination that delayed that start date; it was his deliberate, methodical preparation to meet the program’s prerequisites.\n\n“In the beginning my goal seemed so far away,” says AJ, “But I knew I had to keep chipping away at the ‘prereqs’ of volunteer work, patient-related work experience and shadowing Physician Assistants to make it happen.” He developed a long-term plan to meet his goals and put his mind, heart and back into it.\n\n“It was a lot of small decisions along the way that gradually added up,” he says. “It was taking summer classes, getting a tutor for chemistry and turning Bs into As” that finally positioned him as a qualified candidate for the PA program.\n\nNow, well past the half-way mark, AJ is breathing a little easier. He has hit his stride with the demands of a rigorous PA program.\n\n“I live by the clock,” he says, “and set a firm study schedule.” The moment things first came together for him was when he passed his first set of mid-terms. “Ok, this is do-able,” he decided. He hasn’t looked back.\n\nAs a graduate from Chico State with a BA Degree, and a licensed EMT who worked for 5-years in that field, AJ knows a career in medicine holds the brightest future for him and his family. His wife, Ali, and toddler, Finley, are his strongest supporters – along with Ali’s parents who live in Visalia and have provided a home for this young family while they try to get ahead.\n\n“They are putting a roof over our heads and making it possible for Ali to be a stay-at-home mom and for me to have the focus I need to complete the program,” says AJ. A new baby coming in May will get to witness AJ’s August walk across the graduation stage and into a new life of service to the local community.\n\n“As a professional PA, I want to stay relevant in this field and make a positive impact on people’s lives in an underserved health community,” says AJ. He is well on his way.', 'A Long Road To Success', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12333-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12333, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12333-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12730, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Chelsea-Sestini.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-617" title="Chelsea Sestini" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Chelsea-Sestini-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>At 22-years old, Chelsea Sestini had given post high school education a good try. She had been in and out of community college classes and had even done the online thing, but with little success.\n\n“It just wasn’t working for me, and I felt like I was falling through the cracks,” says Chelsea.\n\nThen, when her mom went back to college and became a Nurse Practitioner at age 52, Chelsea knew she had the role model and inspiration she needed to finally make it happen. She just needed to find the right education environment.\n\n“I love the atmosphere here and everything is much more personal with such small class sizes,” she says .Chelsea felt right at home on SJVC’s <a title="Visalia Campus" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia campus </a>and decided to enroll in the<a title="Business Administration" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration/"> Business Administration </a>program.\n\n“The teachers are more like mentors, and if you get lost on the lessons, they are there until you get it.” Chelsea likes knowing that everyone in her class is doing what she is doing and at the same pace. She feels like they are developing friendships that could last a lifetime. “We have a real connection – kind of like a family, but without the bickering,” she laughs.\n\nChelsea especially likes wearing the BA uniform. “The uniform changes the way I think about school; I feel professional and proud to put it on,” she says.\n\nChelsea has a family of cheerleaders supporting her all the way. In addition to her mom, Chelsea’s husband, Shaun, and their two young children remind her that all of her hard work will be worth it.\n\nHer advice to anyone afraid to go back to college: “Believe in yourself and just take that leap. Everything else will fall into place.”\n\nThe benefits of an educational experience within a Private College have all come together for Chelsea, who currently enjoys a 4.0 GPA. In fact, she has adjusted so well to academic life that she now has her eyes cast toward eventually getting her MBA.\n\nBut first she has another vision to complete – one more ‘uniform’ to wear when she walks across the stage and is awarded her AS degree at her graduation ceremony in September next year.\n\n“I want to feel that pride and that smile on my face,” she says.', 'Finding The Right College Experience', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12340-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12340, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12340-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12731, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Tameka.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-654" title="Tameka" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Tameka-e1358184044346-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /></a>Tameka Smith started and stopped college many times before enrolling in <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>’s <a title="Pharmacy Technology" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology/">Pharmacy Technology </a>program last year.\n\n“I dropped out to get married, then to have my daughter and son, then to care for family members who needed help,” says Tameka. It just never seemed to be her turn to have the support needed to fulfill her education dream.\n\nNow in the last weeks of her PT program externship, she has a little time to reflect on her struggle to get here. In the last year Tameka has lost four people close to her, including her beloved grandmother last December. Instead of losing focus during such tremendous loss, she came back to class certain that she had her grandmother’s blessing.\n\n“Everything suddenly clicked for me and I felt that I was doing exactly what I was supposed to be doing,” she says. “Even now I get little signs of encouragement from her.”\n\nTameka also relied on classmates to “keep me sane.” An admitted control freak and perfectionist, she learned to take their advice and “put it down, walk away and come back with a clearer mind”, as a way to push through difficult times. Her <em>Pharm Fam, </em>as they call themselves, got her through the rough spots.\n\nIt was her faith and God that always gave her the ‘extra push when no one else could” she says, that she most relied upon. At home, her husband Shawn, 13-year old Maia and 9-year old Myles kept her anchored to her goals.\n\n“Most nights, the kids and I would do our homework together,” she says. Tameka’s 4.0 GPA proves it was an effective support system.\n\nTameka is optimistic about employment, once she graduates in December. She plans to spend a few years enjoying her new profession while her kids get through high school and then, maybe, a BA degree in Pharmacology. She just passed her national and state Pharmacy Technology certifications and is a licensed PT, so she is well on her way.\n\n“Right now I have the wind beneath my wings with my AS degree, and the sky is the limit,” she says.', 'Pharmacy Technology Student''s Degree Was A Long Time Coming', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12347-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12347, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12347-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12732, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0217.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-329" title="IMG_0217" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0217-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Sujanalatha De Almeida was honored with the <em>Outstanding Educator of the Year </em>award last month by the California State Society of American Medical Technologists (CSSAMT), during the State Seminar held in Santa Ana, CA.\n\nThough Mrs. De Almeida has won considerable industry recognition during her 32-years in the Medical Technology field, this award was especially dear to her.\n\nAs an instructor for both the <a title="Medical Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/">Clinical Medical Assisting </a>and <a title="Medical Office" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-office/">Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting </a>programs at SJVC Visalia for 22 years, De Almeida has devoted herself to preparing others for a life-long career helping others. “I am blessed to be able to touch the lives of my students,” she says. “This award is in recognition of these years of teaching and I am truly honored by this recognition.”\n\nNominees for this prestigious award had to meet strict criteria, including CSSAMT membership in good standing, regular attendance at both state and national industry seminars and letters of recommendation from at least two colleagues or supervisors. Although Mrs. De Almeida knew there was a possibility she would be nominated, the award still took her by surprise.\n\nIt was less of a surprise to her many students who, along with the roughly 4,000 medical assisting students whose lives she has touched, have benefitted from Mrs. De Almeida’s knowledge, professionalism and dedication to their own success in the medical field.\n\nPrior to Mrs. De Almeida’s employment with <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">San Joaquin Valley College </a>she taught for ten years in Bangalore, India.', 'Instructor Ms. De Almeida Named Educator of the Year', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12331-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12331, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12331-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12733, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', 'SJVC Visalia celebrated National Medical Assistants Week, Oct. 15-19, with week-long activities, community recognition and a special ceremony for <a title="Medical Assisting at SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/program/Clinical_and_Administrative_Medical_Assisting/" target="_blank">Medical Assisting program</a> students who took part in honoring their future profession.\n\nThe MA<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0196.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-319" title="IMG_0196" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/IMG_0196-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> program chose “Medical Assistants, you make a difference!” as their theme this year. “Our students are the promise of tomorrow in this field,” says Cecilia Avalos, MA instructor. “During National Medical Assistants Week, we honored our past, present and our future.”\n\nMany of the almost 200 students enrolled in SJVC’s MA program enjoyed a week of activities that included a “Healthy Eating” event that demonstrated healthy food choices and cooking techniques.  Mary Ann Cuellar, MA instructor, represented the college at a Visalia City Council meeting where Mayor Amy Shuklian presented San Joaquin Valley College with a proclamation plaque recognizing National Medical Assistants Week.\n\nThe week’s celebration concluded with an awards ceremony on campus where Mike Perry, SJVC’s CEO, talked to MA students about the importance of their chosen career’s impact on their communities. Students enjoyed the focus on their profession, refreshments and a drawing for prizes.', 'SJVC Celebrates MA Week', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12323-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12323, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12323-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12734, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-685" title="MA Event" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/MA-Event-290x290.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="290" /><a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) in Visalia</a> celebrated National Medical Assistants Week, Oct. 15-19, with week-long activities, community recognition and a special ceremony for Medical Assisting program students who took part in honoring their future profession.\n\n<a title="Medical Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/">SJVC’s Medical Assisting (MA) </a>program chose “Medical Assistants, you make a difference!” as their theme this year.\n\n“Our students are the promise of tomorrow in this field,” says Cecilia Avalos, MA instructor. “During National Medical Assistants Week, we honored our past, present and our future.”\n\nMany of the almost 200 students enrolled in SJVC’s MA program enjoyed a week of activities that included a “Healthy Eating” event that demonstrated healthy food choices and cooking techniques.\n\nMary Ann Cuellar, MA instructor, represented the college at a Visalia City Council meeting where Mayor Amy Shuklian presented San Joaquin Valley College with a proclamation plaque recognizing National Medical Assistants Week.\n\nThe week’s celebration concluded with an awards ceremony on campus where Mike Perry, SJVC’s CEO, talked to MA students about the importance of their chosen career’s impact on their communities. Students enjoyed the focus on their profession, refreshments and a drawing for prizes.', 'SJVC Celebrates Medical Assistants Week', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12325-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12325, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12325-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12735, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DENTAL-ASSISTING-STUDENTS1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-314" title="DENTAL ASSISTING STUDENTS" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/DENTAL-ASSISTING-STUDENTS1-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Our Dental Assisting students are out and about again!\n\n<a title="Dental Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/dental-assistant/">SJVC Dental assisting</a> students got yet another opportunity this year to participate in the community – this time at Kids Fair 2012.\n\nKids Fair is sponsored by Tulare County Association of Realtors and is a yearly event in Visalia held to promote raising healthy kids.  The event supports The Jeff Barnes Brain Injury Foundation and the Salvation Army-Visalia.\n\nSJVC DA students had the chance to educate the kids on how to brush and gave nutritional information on healthy and unhealthy snacks.\n\nJulie Hill, the <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a> SJVC Dental Assisting Clinical Coordinator, organized the SJVC booth while students Scott Garza, Alyssa Flores and Alejandra Calderon spent their time educating children and their parents on how to properly take care of their teeth.\n\n“You can see the enjoyment on our student’s faces while teaching the children! I love that,” exclaimed Cynthia Flores SJVC’s RDH.\n\nThe kids really enjoyed the interaction with the puppets, which showed the kids how to brush teeth. Our students really enjoy giving back to the community.\n\n“I know the children had a lot of fun because they kept coming back to brush the teeth of the stuffed animals,” explained dental assisting student Alyssa Flores.\n\nIn addition to teaching them tips to have healthier dental hygiene, they gave out toothbrushes and toothpaste.  SJVC was represented well to the entire community!\n\n“It was a lot of fun,” exclaimed Alyssa, “answering the parents and kids questions made me feel important to someone’s life!”\n\n<em>Great Job SJVC Dental Assisting Students!</em>', 'Dental Assisting Students Participate in the Kid''s Fair', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12322-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12322, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12322-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12736, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/photo-62.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-295" title="photo-6" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/photo-62-300x180.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="180" /></a> Compassion and desire are big components of success for students at <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>.  Volunteering in industry-relevant events is one way students develop that desire.\n\nThanks to dental instructor Cindy Flores, <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">SJVC Visalia’s </a>dental students had the opportunity to participate in the second California Dental Association’s Cares Event.\n\nThe Cares Event is a free dental clinic. This year’s event took place in Sacramento, California. Thirteen dental assistant students had the opportunity to go to the event.\n\n"I wanted to wake up the compassion in their hearts and also offer them a chance to dive right into the dental field,” said Cindy.  And the event was successful at doing just that! CDA Cares gave students a chance to help people who need it but cannot afford it.\n\nWith over 2,000 participants and over 10,000 procedures, the volunteers, professionals and students truly make a huge impact.\n\nCindy spent hours researching places where her students could volunteer in a dental setting. After touring the website, she was incredibly impressed with the CDA’s Cares Event and what they were offering.\n\n“Free dental care is hard to find. So many California residents have dental insurance, thus increasing the need,” explained Cindy. Another reason she decided to work with CDA was because it was a well organized and attended event that she knew her students would experience a lot of knowledge and positivity.\n\nThe Cares Event gave the students a chance to use the skills they have been taught in school to help people who need it. Helping those people who were so grateful was a truly rewarding and successful time for the SJVC students.\n\nCindy found the event incredibly helpful for her students.\n\n“They came back with even more interest in dentistry.  You could hear the excitement in their voices,” she explained. “They came back with many stories to tell about patients.”\n\n<em>Great Job Visalia <a title="Dental Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/dental-assistant/">Dental Assistant </a>students!</em>', 'Visalia Dental Assistant Students Participate in CDA Cares Event', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12319-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12319, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12319-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12737, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG299.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-275" title="IMG299" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG299-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>The <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a> campus took initiative in healthy eating this summer with a “Healthy Food Cooking Fest,” held this past August on campus.\n\nThe purpose was to demonstrate to the AMTSS members and guests how to cook healthy food by including a variety of vegetables and fruits. Additionally, the event raised funds and collected non-perishable food items for the SJVC Food Pantry.\n\nAMTSS members arrived early in the morning to set-up and help with the preparation of a variety of appetizers and main dishes. They also helped with the clean-up after the event.\n\n“The students performed an amazing job,” said lead AMTSS advisor and <a title="Medical Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/">CAMA </a>instructor Sujanalatha De Almeida.  “I commend them for their efforts and dedication to this project.”\n\nThe Student Lounge looked colorful and attractive with baskets of vegetables and fruits. There was a rich, attractive spread of finger sandwiches, fruit salsa, and hummus with crackers, grapes, cantaloupe, and decadent zucchini soup.\n\nCAMA Instructor Mary Wainio demonstrated how to prepare Orzo Salad and Asian Chicken Salad, while De Almedia demonstrated a simple shrimp dish, garnished with spices from India. The shrimp was served on a bed of penne pasta and accompanied by sautéed Summer Squash Medley. The students were also introduced to Quinoa (an ancient grain grown by the Incas about 2000 years ago). This was served with chicken curry.\n\nDessert was more fruit - sliced cantaloupe and grapes.\n\n“This was a fun event,” said De Almeida, “and the students and guests enjoyed the food, just as much as Ms. Wainio and I enjoyed cooking the food. I would like to thank Mary Wainio for being such a talented cook. Thanks to Chris Foster for the tasty cucumber and cream-cheese sandwiches, and the watermelon and mango fruit salad.”\n\nHippocrates, the Father of Medicine, wrote: <em>“Let Thy Food be Thy Medicine. Let Thy Medicine by Thy Food.”</em>', 'Visalia Food Fest: Healthy Edition', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12315-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:34', '2014-09-25 22:34:34', '', 12315, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12315-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12738, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSCN2992.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-278" title="DSCN2992" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/DSCN2992-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a>Sujanalatha De Almeida was recently recognized by the American Medical Technologists (AMT) at the AMT’s 74<sup>th</sup> National meeting in San Antonio, TX, as their Registered Medical Assistant of the Year. This award is based on the provision of extraordinary service and contributions on all levels within AMT, and to the Medical Assisting profession and total care community.\n\nEvery U.S. state nominated a candidate for this award and over 450 attendees watched proud recipients, as they were recognized for achievements in their medical career fields.\n\nEach year the AMT honors selected Registered Medical Technologists and Technicians nationwide and publishes news of their awards in their <em>Events</em> magazine. Sujanalatha De Almeida is also a recipient of many State honors, including the Distinguished Achievement Award, Exceptional Merit, The Pinnacle Award, Registered Phlebotomy Technology Award of the Year, Hands Across America Mission Award and Appreciation Award. She is a past president and vice president and current Board member of the California State Society of American Medical Technologists. “I am honored and humbled by being chosen to receive the RMA of the Year award by AMT,” says De Almeida. “This award presents the challenge of living up to the expectations of this prestigious award and its principles of character and integrity.”\n\nMrs. De Almeida, RMA, RPT, was certified in 1988 and has been an instructor for<a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu"> San Joaquin Valley College’s </a>Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting program in <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a> since 1991.  Her students benefit from her education, skill and experience gained in the medical assisting field and in the college’s classrooms and labs. “It has been a privilege to be an instructor at San Joaquin Valley College in Visalia, CA,” she says. “The support and encouragement that I have received from my colleagues and administrators is incomparable. It is my goal to continue to serve at the State and National levels and to strive for excellence in teaching,” says De Almeida.\n\nHer quest for accomplishment in her field continues as she pursues her BA degree in Management and Organizational Development. “I believe in life-long learning, and I hope to earn a Master’s in Health Administration,” says Mrs. De Almeida.', 'SJVC Medical Assisting Instructor Recognized', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12316-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '', 12316, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12316-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12739, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/heros-breakfast-picture.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-761" title="heros breakfast picture" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/heros-breakfast-picture-290x239.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="239" /></a>“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Many job seekers and students have heard that saying time and time again, but <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/" target="_blank">SJVC</a> Visalia Criminal Justice students Lizbeth Gomez and Dnae Blow capitalized on the idea.\n\nThe two attended a Hero’s Breakfast held at Quail Park; to honor law enforcement members in the community. The ceremony started by thanking the heroes for their commitment to the community. The members of the organizations were presented to the attendees while everyone enjoyed breakfast.\n\nThroughout the breakfast, the students visited with the officers and some of the residents of Quail Park.\n\n“There was a lot of socializing, with different police departments, fire departments, and paramedics from all of Tulare County together laughing while eating breakfast,” explains Dnae.\n\nWhile meeting different officers Lizbeth said she, “realized how important it is for our Heroes to feel appreciated.” By watching how the officers interacted with one another, the students learned how to present themselves in a professional manner.\n\n“I felt special being surrounded by all types of law enforcement, and especially liked the comment that maybe next year we could attend the breakfast again,” said Lizbeth.\n\n“Our two students looked great,” stated Laura Lathrop, director of the <a title="Criminal Justice: Corrections" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/criminal-justice-corrections/">criminal justice</a> program. “They had an opportunity to rub elbows with Visalia PD, Fire, Ambulance, Tulare County Sheriff and CHP.”\n\nTo show the community’s appreciation for the heroes’ work, baskets were raffled off. The first basket to be raffled off was the one that SJVC donated.\n\n“It took both Sgt. Blow and me to carry it,’ explained Lizbeth, “And they were really grateful for the basket- which happened to be the largest one there!” Both Dnae and Lizbeth believe the Sheriff Deputy was very lucky to win their basket.\n\nLizbeth and Dnae feel honored to have been involved with this event. They hope to attend again, and encourage others to get involved and keep appreciating the hard, life-threatening work the heroes do.', 'Visalia Criminal Justice students attend the Hero''s Breakfast', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12330-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '', 12330, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12330-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12740, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/11111111.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-237" title="11111111" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/11111111-169x300.jpg" alt="" width="169" height="300" /></a>“First term students” usually means nervousness, unease and hopefully a slow and gentle start for a program – but not for <a title="Dental Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/dental-assistant/">SJVC Visalia’s Dental Assisting </a>students.\n\nFour students and their instructor helped to provide dental care to needy California residents, jumping right into to their field and getting a big picture experience in the process.\n\n“I wanted to ‘wake up’ the compassion in [the students’] hearts and offer them a chance to dive right into the dental field,” said instructor Cynthia Flores.\n\nThe students partnered with the California Dental Association (CDA) Foundation, a state-wide organization that works to provide needy California residents quality dental care through free dental clinics.  Students assisted with all aspects of the Modesto clinic, escorting patients between stations, printing x-rays and working in the numbing area.\n\n“I know if something is sponsored by the CDA, it will be well organized and well attended,” said Flores.  “Helping those in need is something they won’t forget…they came back with even more interest in dentistry – you could hear the excitement in their voices.”\n\nThe students were both nervous and excited going in to the event as first term DAs.\n\n“I’m glad I did it and can say I was a part of something so important,” said student Danielle Tingler.  “Seeing all the patients happy because they were getting something they needed for so long was very rewarding.”\n\nFellow student Patricia Botella agreed: “My favorite part of the day was helping people - and to see those people look at me and say ‘thank you for volunteering.’”\n\nTingler recommends the experience to other DA students as well.  “You meet a lot of people, maybe even some you could work for.  I can’t wait for the next one!”\n\nTo find about more about the CDA Foundation’s free clinics and ways to get involved, visit their website at <a href="http://www.cdafoundation.org">www.cdafoundation.org</a>.\n\nGreat job, SJVC Visalia!', 'First Term DA Students Volunteer', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12301-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '', 12301, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12301-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12741, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '<img class="size-medium wp-image-232 alignleft" title="IMG_0155" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/IMG_0155-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /><a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> SIFE and PT Club students Raised Funds to provide Easter Eggs and an Easter egg hunt for The Spirit of Women House in Fresno, CA.  Over one thousand Eggs were filled with Goodies for Children of  ALL ages. The hunt was divided into various age groups, from 0-3yrs, 4-7yrs, 8-older, and Adult. Each age group had age appropriate toys and goodies, even feminine items for the women living in the transitional house.\n\nHundreds of mothers and their children have been coming to Spirit of Woman for help and healing since 2000. The Central Fresno facility is a safe haven from their former chaotic lives of drug and alcohol abuse.\n\nThe Easter Egg Hunt was not only fun for SJVC Students, but it also gives the house hope, that people in the community still care about them, and want to help them become productive members of society.\n\n(The event was led by SJVC Club advisors: David Morra, Kathleen Self and Leigh Chavarria)', 'Easter at SJVC Visalia', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12300-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '', 12300, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12300-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12742, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7871.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-152" title="IMG_7871" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/IMG_7871-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a>Over 140 children of all ages attended this year''s annual Children''s Christmas Party at SJVC in <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a> last Friday from 3:00-5:00pm.\n\nStudent Resource Coordinator Elisia Sanchez organize this year''s free event which offered fun booths such as face-painting, child-made Christmas ornaments and pictures frames to hold each of their photos taken with Santa.  Story time was held in teh comfortable campus auditorium and food stations provided Christmas snacks and beverages to all attendees.\n\nThe children were all sons, daughters and other relatives of SJVC students, staff and faculty.  Every child got a gift bag filled with goodies, including a raffle ticket for prizes given away at the end of the day.  every adult attending also got a raffle ticket.  "The main attraction was definitely the raffle," said Kerrie Liles, Dean of Student Services.  "Kids were so excited for a chance to win some of the nice gifts we had bought with money raised by student service clubs."\n\nTickets were drawn for over 80 toys and four completely decorated artificial Christmas trees.  "Some employees had even donated their <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> Christmas gift certificates to include in the drawing," said Liles.\n\nSJVC staff, faculty, students and various student clubs spent many months preparing for the event and raising money through bake sales and other campus fundraisers.  Many SJVC employees also volunteered to manage game and food booths as well as try their hands as face painters and crafts instructors.  The most noticeable volunteer was Jesse Decker, SJVC''s General Education Manager, who got the greatest attention as this year''s delightful Santa Claus.', 'SJVC Hosts Annual Christmas Party', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12285-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '', 12285, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12285-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12743, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Eric-Gormley-MA-First-Place-student-writer-of-the-year1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-122" title="Eric Gormley-MA First Place student writer of the year" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Eric-Gormley-MA-First-Place-student-writer-of-the-year1-300x231.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="231" /></a>Eric Gormley\nCAMA – Clinical and Administrative Assistant\n\n<strong>Socialized Medicine - A Gift or a Curse?</strong>\n\nFor those of us who wonder about our current programs of healthcare, we often question whether or not there is a better alternative. Our government has been attempting to make health care less expensive for our country, and it is my opinion that socialized medicine could indeed aid us in spending less while making it easier on Americans.\n\nSocialized medicine is a word often used in the United States to refer to many different kinds of public health care. It represents any system of medical care that is publicly financed, government administered, or both, though use of this word is sometimes wrong due to the large amount of confusion on what it means exactly.\n\n<strong>What is Socialized Medicine?</strong>\n\nSocialized Medicine was the best definitive word for officials to give the term in the U.S. The words are associated simply because of the nature of how our country believes it will indeed affect us economically and also will affect our health care system. (Goodman, 2009) The word association with socialism continues to be used against both sides of the argument to make negative feelings towards public control of the health care system in that country.\n\nThe main example where there are government employees as health care workers is in the of British National Health Service, but systems like this one operate  in other countries as well including Finland, Spain and Cuba. (Brochu, 2010) The United States'' Veterans Health Administration and the U.S. Army Medical Department also fall under the same category, but are not associated with the term.\n\nThe U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs,Canada''s Medicare system, the United Kingdom''s NHS general practitioner and dental services are systems where health care is delivered by private business with percentages or complete government funding. Most industrialized countries, and many smaller, developing countries have some form of public funded health care with coverage for all as their main goal. The United States is the only wealthy nation that does not provide universal health care.\n\n<strong>Why is Socialized Medicine a Good Idea?</strong>\n\nFrom the outside glancing in on socialized medicine it causes disturbances on a very touchy subject. Healthcare problems can cause disturbances that we are not really prepared for as a nation. It could start a mass panic for Americans. That is because we are indeed ignorant on the subject.\n\nHowever, most Americans have little to no understanding of universal health care. Not only that, they have never done the research themselves to see if it was better for them in any way. There are a few positives to bringing the European style of healthcare.\n\nOne, you don''t pay to see a doctor. Whether you''re treating a common cold or getting a surgical procedure, you will never pay any amount of money ever. And it truly may sound good, and it is very good, but it is also very sad if you are used to having the option of your insurance card or choosing with your insurance company over exactly what percentage of your bill it will cover for any given doctors visit.\n\nTwo, the co-pays for prescriptions are much cheaper. In fact, children''s prescriptions are almost always entirely free. Adults pay a set fee that is usually somewhere around six or seven pounds, or about $10 American dollars.\n\nThree, pharmacists play more of a triage role. They have the capability to help diagnose a patient due to their stricter, in depth training. (Brochu, 2010) Pharmacists over in the U.K. work more like part doctors. They are not only equipped to treat minor problems including rashes, coughs, eye infections and stuff like that. They could take care of more problems than normal which would aid our current system to better serve the American people. More and more often, they offer advice on things like quitting smoking and losing weight as well as early screening for long-term problems such as diabetes and heart disease.\n\nFourth, Doctors prescribe fewer drugs. No matter what''s wrong with your child, the first question a doctor here will always ask is: "Does your child seem ill?" Basically, unless the kid has such a bad sickness that he or she can’t walk, and the chance of he or she getting worse is high, the rule of thumb is that they probably don''t need to be seen by a doctor.\n\nFifth, doctors are paid per person, not per treatment. In the U.S., doctors are paid by the treatment. This creates a powerful incentive to prescribe medication, if for no other reason than to feel that they''ve covered all of the bases. This causes the people to pay more for services, even if they cannot really afford it.  Under the NHS, in contrast, doctors are paid by the government according to the number of people they see. (Socialized Medicine, 2010)\n\nSixth, you take more responsibility for your own health. The standard critique of socialized medicine is that it''s the government -- not the individual -- that''s making decisions about our health.\n\nSeventh, you see fewer specialists. Much like an HMO in the U.S., your first place to call in a U.K.-style system is always your general practitioner, who then refers you on to a specialist if the situation calls for it. The difference is that GPs in the U.K. treat a much wider range of problems than they do in the U.S. So, for example, in the U.S., any kind of women''s health issue is generally handled by an OB/GYN, while children generally see pediatricians. There, in contrast, your GP could theoretically give you a pap smear, tend to your son''s ear infection and treat your daughter''s asthma all in one visit. This type of health care system runs smoother, and is thus in some ways <em>more efficient </em>than the American one. (Socialized Medicine, 2010)\n\nFinally, there is more after-hours coverage. Most national health care systems make it much easier to see a doctor at night and on weekends. We have all been caught in that situation of having to wait to tend to our sickness, and until we can either afford it, or if we have a sick child on a Saturday night and weighing the costs; economic, emotional, and logistical of going to the emergency room or just taking our chances and waiting for a day to come that will be better to go on. If my child becomes ill on the weekend anywhere in the United Kingdom, I simply make an appointment with a local health care cooperative, and he or she can be seen day or night. (Brochu, 2010)\n\n<strong>Conclusion</strong>\n\nIn the end, there are pros and cons to both systems, though I hope that this paper has helped the public understand the option is considerably less pressuring in working toward getting a better America tomorrow. There must be a compromise between big business and the health care system before we can further our progress.\n\n<em>References</em>\n\nBrochu, M. (n.d.) The Question of Socialized Medicine\nRetrieved from http://jmchar.people.wm.edu/Kin493/socmed.html\n\nGoodman, J (2009). Cato’s Letter – Five Myths of Socialized Medicine\nRetrieved from http://www.cato.org/pubs/catosletter/catosletterv3n1.pdf\n\nSocialized Medicine – pros and cons (2009)\nRetrieved from www.huliq.com/50811/socialized-medicine-pros-and-cons\n\nSocialized Medicine has a Good Side (2010)\nRetrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/2009/08/15/socialism-is-the-best-medicine.html', 'Student Writer of the Year: Socialized Medicine - A Gift or a Curse?', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12280-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '', 12280, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12280-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(12744, 4, '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '[caption id="attachment_113" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/class-of-steel.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-113" title="class of steel" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/class-of-steel-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> Congrats to our students - we are so proud![/caption]\n\nSan Joaquin Valley College’s <a title="Physician Assistant" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/physician-assistant/">Physician Assistant</a> program in <a title="SJVC Visalia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/visalia/">Visalia</a> took the trophy away from last year’s winner, University of Southern California (USC), at the 2011 California Academy of Physician Assistants (CAPA) Medical Challenge Bowl held recently in Palm Springs, CA.\n\nPA students Jessica Garner, Jessica Rumsey and Chris Key, along with alternates Alicia Gordon and Daniel Villegas, brought home the winning glass bowl trophy, which is inscribed with each year’s winner, and $250. These students are 14-months into their almost two-year PA program, and they and their fellow classmates are scheduled to graduate in 2012.\n\nIt was an intense competition among seven teams of three-students each, that represented Physician Assistant (PA) educational programs from US Davis, Tuoro University, Samuel Merritt University, Western University and Riverside Community College, as well as USC and San Joaquin Valley College. “Our five seniors prepared for this competition for a few weeks prior to the event and felt confident that they would do well,” says Les Howard, PA Program Director for SJVC’s Visalia campus. “We’ve had a little rivalry going on with USC for four years now – they’ve won twice, we’ve won twice – so it’s nice to bring it back home and to have beaten a Master’s level program.”\n\nTeams squared off in 12-question rounds, in which teams earned or lost 10-points with each right or wrong answer. ‘Sudden death’ elimination rounds were held when there was a total point tie.  San Joaquin Valley College emerged victorious and jubilant.\n\nCAPA President-elect, Adam Marks helps organize this annual event and is also a 2010 graduate of SJVC’s Physician Assistant program. “As a SJVC PA alumni, I am very proud of the accomplishments of the PA program,” he says. “It was great seeing our rural primary care program win the Student Bowl. It just proves a fact well-known to the faculty and alumni; SJVC does a great job equipping its PA students with the medical knowledge needed to not only win an event like the Challenge Bowl, but to succeed as PAs in the Central Valley.”\n\nIt has, in fact, been a great year of accolades for these PA students and Class of 2012. In May, 2011 at the annual PA conference in Las Vegas, this class was recognized with the following Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA): Outstanding Student Society Award, Health Communities Award and Certificate of Recognition for participating in National Service Month.  See this website for a recap of the PA class of 2012’s community service and professional development works: <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/alanvale/student-society-powerpoint-8237438">http://www.slideshare.net/alanvale/student-society-powerpoint-8237438</a>.', 'SJVC PA Students Win!', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12279-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:34:47', '2014-09-25 22:34:47', '', 12279, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12279-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12745, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:10', '2014-09-25 22:35:10', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Hesperia-Business-Administration-program-information-fair.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3047" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Hesperia-Business-Administration-program-information-fair-300x181.jpg" alt="Hesperia Business Administration program information fair" width="300" height="181" /></a>Twice each year for the last four years, <a title="Click to learn more about the SJVC Business Administration program." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration" target="_blank">Business Administration</a> students on the <a title="Click to learn more about the SJVC Victor Valley campus." href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley" target="_blank">Hesperia campus</a> have put on a Program Information Fair for the community, as part of their Business Leadership course. This year the BA program threw open the gates and invited all of the other business, medical and technical programs to participate.\n\nJust two years ago the Medical Assisting program joined the Fair, followed by the Pharmacy Technology program six months later. "I thought if I could do this with those two programs, I’ll just get the whole campus involved," says Douglas Patch, BA program instructor. "They all just jumped on board."\n\nStudents from each program – Business Administration, Medical Assisting, Medical Office, Pharmacy Technology, Industrial Technology, Criminal Justice and HVAC-R – set up 24 booths in 7 classrooms for the August 12th evening event. ASB students kept a comfortable flow of over 100 attendees from classroom to classroom.\n\n"Our primary goals were to build campus unity and strengthen relationships with employers and the community so that they are aware of us and what our students can do," says Mr. Patch. "We want to stimulate admissions by letting people see that there is a career college that develops professional and life skills in the subjects we teach."\n\nIt was also a great way for students to build teamwork, introduce each other to their program components and provide points of education to visitors. "Students got to see what other students are doing in their programs; and I think there is a lot of value in that," says Patch.\n\n"It gave me an opportunity to meet other school instructors, staff and students in other departments," says Sergio Alamo, Business student.\n\nMedical, business, home, nutrition and life tips were shared from each program’s knowledge base.\n\n"It was an opportunity for students in all programs to share best practices for the community and for each other," says Richard Matley, Campus Director. "Interviewing, building credit, health screening, electrical safety in the home, energy saving in the desert heat, prescription drug safety and other helpful and important life tips were shared."\n\nBoth community attendees and students walked away with a little better understanding of various professions and the services they provide.\n\n"I enjoyed working with ''patients'' at my station, which was responsible for doing the glucose tests," says Madelyn Lopez, Medical Office student. "I realized that this field is something that I will enjoy doing."\n\nWith the expanded momentum of total campus involvement, a greater number of people will benefit while students hone their skills, knowledge and professional services. Potential employers, also, will have a chance to measure program depth and scout potential new-hires about to graduate.\n\n"The Program Fair was a great way for our students to share their abilities and highlight SJVC’s Institutional Learning Objectives," says Mr. Patch. "Students demonstrate their ability of being great communicators, show their skills, develop professional topics and decorum, empower each other with confidence, demonstrate great citizenship and highlight their education."\n\nThe event ended with a big outside BBQ where students, instructors and visitors were able to share their experiences.\n\n"Students from all of the programs showed that they can unite as a group of professionals that can work together to achieve a common goal," says Doug Patch.\n\nThe faculty promises an even bigger event in the spring.', 'SJVC Program Information Fair benefits many', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '3045-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:10', '2014-09-25 22:35:10', '', 3045, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/3045-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12746, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:10', '2014-09-25 22:35:10', 'It is not often that a grateful student or graduate will take the time to sit down and write a note of appreciation to an especially inspiring instructor. It is even more rare for twenty-two of them to take pen in hand - but that is exactly what they did for Michael Stewart, <a title="Criminal Justice: Corrections program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/criminal-justice-corrections/" target="_blank">Criminal Justice Corrections</a> Program Director and instructor at the <a title="SJVC Victor Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley/" target="_blank">Hesperia</a> campus.\n\n[caption id="attachment_2429" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="wp-image-2429 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/20140311_175546b-300x201.jpg" alt="Michael Stewart" width="300" height="201" /> Caption: (L-R) Ambassador Clyde Rivers, PhD, presents Michael Stewart with The Golden Rule Award in front of his CJC Cadets Class #22.[/caption]\n\nMichael Stewart was surprised…and awed…at the compliments and gratitude heaped upon him from so many.\n\n“Wow, I didn’t know they did that,” said Stewart, who admits his paramilitary structured program “is not easy.”\n\nCJC cadets go through a boot camp style of training that includes marching, uniform inspections and plenty of boot polishing. Michael Stewart makes it clear that there are consequences if a student is not prepared each day and does not meet all physical and dress code requirements.\n\n“It can be very difficult until you understand the importance of discipline,” he says. “I want you looking good because, in law enforcement, if you look put together, then you can open your mouth and I’ll listen to you.”\n\nA lot of Mr. Stewart’s students understood the importance of that principle. They are very vocal about how that lesson, and so many others they were given, made them better at everything else they undertook.\n\nHere are a few excerpts from their notes of appreciation:\n\nCadet Michael Dennis…“Sir, I would like you to know that with your help I’ve changed for the best and now I am on my way to becoming a man.” Cadet Marlene Bocanegra…“You have pushed me to the point I thought I was ready to give up, then pushed me even harder. I only hope I’ve made you proud in all I’ve done here.” Cadet Bryan Miramontes… “Mr. Stewart has helped me by seeing the leader in me. My mind is more disciplined and my body is more conditioned.” Cadet Marco Diaz…“When I came here I was weak, lazy, stubborn and only thought of me. He (Stewart) made me a better person and a stronger person. No other teacher I had changed my bad habits; he did it in 3 months.”\n\nStewart describes his teaching style as fair, firm and consistent. “If those three things are in order, things become very easy,” he says.\n\nMichael Stewart knows something about the accolades that follow a giving nature. He was recently the honored recipient of The Golden Rule International Award for his humanitarian work in the community. The award was presented to Mr. Stewart by Dr. Clyde Rivers, representative to the United Nations at Interfaith Peace-Building Initiative and the Honorable Ambassador at Republic of Burundi, Africa.\n\nThis organization seeks out top achievers who live the Golden Rule, “Treat others the way you want to be treated”, in their everyday life. The award is now established in 120 nations.\n\nMichael Stewart has spent much of his life coaching – and inspiring – youth. He was an intervention liaison in the Hesperia school district’s 20 schools, working with students who had discipline issues, were in gangs or homeless. He was the Head Coach for the Victorville College women’s basketball team for seven years.\n\nMichael Stewart comes from a long line of educators. “There are tons of teachers and coaches in my family,” says Stewart, who comes from a military background. “I want to instill that military discipline n others because it instills good character and good morals.”\n\nMichael and his wife Andrea have three children, Richard, Shanice and Danielle, who are all in college, and have undoubtedly benefitted from parents attuned to the needs and struggles of today’s youth. Michael credits his mom and dad, Carrie and Michael, with much of his philosophy – and success.\n\n“When good things happen, Mom says, ‘That’s what happens when you work hard,’” Michael laughs.\n\nMichael plants those same kinds of seeds in his students that not only benefit their academic and personal lives, but position them better for employment opportunities.\n\n“With a strong work ethic things become a lot easier,” says Stewart. “You are more hirable on the outside because an employer’s perception of you widens a little bit.”\n\nHe drives this point home with something he hangs in his office and writes on every classroom board: “If it is important to you, you will find a way; if not, you will find an excuse”.\n\nMichael Stewart inspires a lot of those around him to <em>find a way</em>.', 'Stand at attention', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12514-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:10', '2014-09-25 22:35:10', '', 12514, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12514-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12747, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:10', '2014-09-25 22:35:10', '[caption id="attachment_1958" align="alignleft" width="225"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1958 " title="Adamina McKenzie" alt="Adamina McKenzie" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/IMG_1715-copy-225x300.jpg" width="225" height="300" /> Adamina''s passion is her work, to which she brings a positive attitude and genuine care.[/caption]\n\nAdamina McKenzie is the kind of person you want in your corner. She will be your strongest advocate. She is the sister you always wished you had, the mama bear who fights for your security, and the coach who pushes you to dig deeper to find your own strength.\n\nThat means, as a Career Services Advisor at the <a title="SJVC Victor Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley/" target="_blank">Hesperia campus</a>, Adamina is in the perfect position to help students and graduates develop job search skills in order to show their greatest potential to prospective employers. Many of her colleagues agree.\n\n<em>EDIT: Shortly after the writing of this story, Adamina transitioned to Career Service Manager at SJVC Hesperia.</em>\n\n“Every day Adamina brings a positive attitude, incredible drive and resourcefulness to the department and our campus,” says Melanie Blackwell, Campus Director, who hired Adamina in February.\n\nAdamina hits the ground running each day. The Career Services team of three plans their goals and activities around providing effective job search assistance to students on the threshold of graduation, as well as building relationships with their future employers. They groom students and graduates in the art of making a good impression – both on their resumes and in-person – along with negotiating salaries, communicating effectively, demonstrating their knowledge and skills, and projecting confidence. Adamina is a natural mentor.\n\n“It’s my passion, and if you’re really passionate about something, you’ll give it your all,” says Adamina. “I believe our students want a career, not a job. I make sure that employers know that, and that it is a win-win situation when they hire our graduates.”\n\nRecently Adamina persuaded a correctional facility that was reopening, with 100 positions to fill, to conduct interviews for new Correction Officers at the college campus. “They interviewed 50 candidates that day and eventually made offers to 28 of our CJC students and graduates,” says Melanie Blackwell. “And now that their Correctional Officer positions are filled, they will be looking at our Business Administration, Medical Assisting and Pharmacy Technology graduates to fill needs within their facility.”\n\nA humble person, Adamina emphasizes the team effort that went in to making this mass placement so successful, as she also credits the skill level of those who were hired. “At the end of the day it’s the graduates who get the job for themselves,” she says. “We just provide the tools for them to be successful during the interview; they do the rest.”\n\nCriminal Justice Corrections Program Director, Mike Stewart had his own thoughts about the mass hiring’s source of momentum. “The CJ staff and cadets are privileged and honored to have Adamina in the community doing what she does best.”\n\nAdamina’s favorite moments are centered on student success stories. For her, it is personal. Their success is her success.\n\nOne story involves a CJC program student who, with Career Services help, landed an ideal position with great pay and benefits…and promptly decided to leave the CJ program. She felt her ultimate goal had been achieved and wanted to begin to enjoy the rewards of her efforts.\n\n“She was scheduled to graduate after only one more module,” says Adamina. “I explained to her that she would be more of an asset to the company with that degree. She agreed to finish and now she’s going to graduate in December. I’m so proud of her.”\n\nAdamina gives much of herself to her work and all those around her. She makes sure she has people close by who help replenish her spirit and cheer her on. Her husband, Elliott and their three young boys enthusiastically fill that role.\n\n“My husband is my hero,” says Adamina. “He boosts me up every morning before I go to work and is the perfect person to go to when I’m not sure about something. And, the boys give me a ‘Go mommy!’”\n\nThere are other resources that come into perfect play. “I do a lot of yoga and meditation,” says Adamina. “I read and apply <i>The Secret </i>and meditate on my Vision Board. It’s a ritual in a sense, but I don’t go so far as chanting,” she laughs. Although, if she did, it would definitely be “Let’s manifest! Let’s do this!” she says.\n\nGratitude constantly weaves its way into Adamina’s thoughts, expressions and spirit. “It definitely takes a team,” she says. “I am so thankful for Anthony Romo (Corporate Director of Career Services), Adriana Ruiz (Career Services Specialist) Melanie Blackwell, Mike Stewart and (colleagues) Kalisha Gessesse and Ashley Voss.”\n\n“I’m telling you, it’s just so rewarding,” she enthuses. “Employers continue to come back to us and students continue to trust me.” What more could you want.', 'SJVC Students and Grads are in good hands', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12453-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:10', '2014-09-25 22:35:10', '', 12453, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12453-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12748, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:10', '2014-09-25 22:35:10', '[caption id="attachment_1866" align="alignleft" width="290"]<img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1866  " title="Would Care Awareness Week" alt="Would Care Awareness Week" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Screen-Shot-2013-11-12-at-11.33.47-AM-290x290.png" width="290" height="290" /> More than 250 people would attend the fair to learn more about their medical fields of interest.[/caption]\n\nTwenty Clinical and <a title="Medical Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Administrative Medical Assisting</a> and <a title="Medical Office program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-office/" target="_blank">Administrative Health Care Management</a> students from SJVC’s Hesperia campus participated in the St. Mary Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine’s public information and health fair, held at the <a title="SJVC Victor Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley/" target="_blank">Hesperia</a> Library on Sept. 22-24.\n\nSJVC medical program students, along with four of their instructors and a Department Head, joined students from Victor Valley College and Azusa Pacific University to help educate fair attendees about the importance of healthy skin and proper wound care.\n\nNumerous exhibits provided the more than 250 attendees with wound care screenings and demonstrations on how to care for skin to maintain health, wound prevention, wound treatment and advances in wound care.\n\n“The people that came through the exhibits were looking for answers that, for many of them, were not readily available,” says SJVC student Rebecca Barton. “To see the expressions of concern and relief was just amazing. Knowing that with only a few simple steps we could make such a huge impact on so many lives is something that will never get old. No problem was left unsolved.”\n\nACHM instructor, Jodie DeSoto was proud of the community service SJVC students provided for this event. Their mission, says Ms. DeSoto was to “enlighten the general community to wound care awareness, along with providing free health screening to the general community of Victor Valley.”\n\nThis first-time event impacted the students who volunteered every bit as much as those they served at the fair.\n\nMedical Assisting student, Melissa Cremeans was one of those who deeply felt the importance of the services they were providing.\n\nWith few attendees in the beginning, Melissa, at Ms. DeSoto’s suggestion, approached passers-by and invited them to enjoy free health screenings and skin care consultations.\n\n“So many people would make the same response,” says Melissa. “They would say, ‘I feel fine…but maybe I should get checked out.’” “Thankfully, a lot of patients were ok, but unfortunately there were several who needed our help. The look on everyone’s face when they got the results of the glucose, cholesterol and BMI’s, good or bad, was what made it worthwhile for me.”\nMelissa’s creative and energetic volunteer work earned her a special award from the St. Mary Wellness Fair for “going above and beyond volunteer duties”.\n\n“It was so much fun getting a sneak peek into the career I have chosen,” says Melissa. “But most importantly, it was a true gift to be able to help the people we were able to help!”\n\nCommunity volunteerism is an important aspect of all SJVC Medical, Business and Technical programs and students on each campus contribute a great deal to many community service organizations.', 'Wound Care Awareness Week educates attendees…and students', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12446-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:10', '2014-09-25 22:35:10', '', 12446, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12446-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12749, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '[caption id="attachment_1625" align="alignleft" width="231"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1625" style="border: 1px solid black; margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px;" title="Cristal Rubio" alt="Cristal Rubio" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Cristal-Rubio-RESIZED.jpg" width="231" height="176" /> Cristal''s dream is to open her very own hair salon, which she hopes to achieve with the knowledge gained from SJVC.[/caption]\n\nCristal Rubio remembers what it felt like to watch her high school friends one at a time get their driver’s licenses and score summer jobs, while she pretended she didn’t need them. “I told them my parents said I didn’t need to work and my mom always drops me off wherever I need to go, because I didn’t want them to know that I didn’t have a green card,” says Cristal.\n\nShe wasn’t sure what it all meant. But, Cristal remembers her parents taking her back and forth between Mexico and the States until, with a temporary visa, they enrolled her in second grade. She didn’t feel any different from all the other kids in school.\n\nBut Cristal didn’t realize the full impact of what it meant to be a non-resident until she applied for college scholarships, only to find out her status disqualified her not only scholarships, but from receiving federal grants and loans, as well. “It was a phase in my life when I was really down and didn’t think I could do anything,” says Cristal. “I was an illegal alien.”\n\nCristal felt at a dead end. “I couldn’t get a scholarship, couldn’t get a degree…it was pointless for me to go to college,” she says. Scarier yet, “People were asking me, ‘How are you here?’ It is a big deal to have a green card and be legal here.”\n\nWhen Cristal was nineteen she married Javier, and when daughter, Miranda, was born she decided it was time to work toward U.S. legal residency. Cristal got the news when Javier, who was in the military, was stationed in Iraq. “On my 21st birthday they (Immigration Dept.) gave me temporary residency, and after they verified all my information and we had our interviews they gave me final approval,” she says. Cristal felt the world open up to her.\n\nOver the next several years Cristal’s dream of owning her own hair and nail salon was taking root. She and husband Javier added Paulina to their family, and while Cristal completed beauty college, son Javier was born. After a short 6-month break Cristal jumped right into<a title="San Joaquin Valley College " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/" target="_blank"> SJVC</a>’s <a title="Business Administration Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/business-administration" target="_blank">Business Administration</a> program in <a title="SJVC Victor Valley Campus " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley" target="_blank">Hesperia.</a> Her dream was so close now.\n\nThe first seven months of her BA program went well and Cristal usually made the Dean’s list. Now within 3-weeks of completing her program she is fighting to keep her momentum. “I hardly get to see my husband, I missed seeing my son’s first steps and all the other little things in our family time,” says Cristal. But she knew the BA program was giving her something important – and just in time for her dream coming to life.\n\nIn June Cristal opened Get Glammed, Hair and Nail Salon and credits instructors Mr. Patch and Mrs. Bastianon with giving her what she needed to make that happen. Her Business Capstone class was all about starting your own business and it filled in all the gaps for a successful start-up. “It teaches you how to write a Business Plan, Business Proposal, write a letter to the bank for a line of credit, Mission Statement, develop core values and how to promote products,” says Cristal. It even taught her how to hire employees, which she has put to good use in finding her new hair stylist and nail technician. “My teachers helped me a lot and it was something new every day,” she says.\n\nSuccess is starting to feel pretty good to Cristal, but she doesn’t forget how long it took her to believe it could happen. Her message to undocumented residents is personal and heartfelt: “Don’t give up if you’re a minority and your immigration status isn’t legal,” she says. “And, don’t give up on education; as soon as you have legal status, enroll in college.”', 'Immigration status threatened success', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12423-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12423, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12423-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12750, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '<em><img class="alignleft  wp-image-1500" style="margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; border: black 1px solid;" title="SJVC Criminal Justice Instructor Michael Stewart " alt="SJVC Criminal Justice Instructor Michael Stewart " src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Michael-Stewart-RESIZED-225x300.jpg" width="180" height="240" />“There are so many things I could say about Mr. Stewart, but he is honestly one of the greatest instructors and people I have had the pleasure of knowing in my life.” –Cadet Raven James</em>\n\nIt can be said that passion for your career is key to leading a happy and successful life. Michael Stewart, a <a title="Criminal Justice Program at SJVC " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/criminal-justice-corrections" target="_blank">criminal justice</a> instructor at <a title="SJVC Hesperia" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley/" target="_blank">SJVC Hesperia</a>, lives and breathes this motto.\n\nJoining the SJVC Hesperia staff three and half years ago, Michael has become, in the eyes of many of his students, a dream instructor. His teaching extends far beyond the world of law enforcement, providing excellent lessons applicable to daily life.\n\nI can’t lie… I enjoy it quite a bit. I enjoy teaching the young. The staff and I are trying to mold the people for the career that we love,” Stewart says.\n\nIn his free time, Michael likes to relax and fish. However, since he is a guy who loves to stay busy, his plate is always full. When he isn’t spending time with kids, he is mentoring youth in his game room at home, or co-coaching the Victor Valley College women’s basketball team with his wife. As a former professional basketball player in Portugal, Spain, Michael has a lot to offer the young ladies on his team.\n\nWatching his children’s success has provided him with a lot of inspiration. Much of Michael’s daily motivation comes from seeing his son, who is missing 3 fingers, defy many social and athletic boundaries.\n\nMichael’s interest in law enforcement came from watching crime shows like COPS, and his draw to education stemmed from the negative choices he could see many of today’s youth making. When discussing younger generations he says,\n\n“I felt a need to get involved… I’ve been involved quite a bit in the mentality of speaking to the youth. Because some elder people come from an old-fashioned place, it’s not always implemented in the most effective way, but the old school can be implemented if you have the right people to guide them.”\n\nHe continuously preaches the importance of punctuality and communication to his students. In doing this, Michael hopes to help his students establish a good work ethic. He also likes to keep his students on their toes because, once his students go into the law enforcement field, they will need to be ready to face unanticipated circumstances.\n\nMichael has a mantra he preaches to his students to use both in school and in their future careers: “Fair, firm, and consistent.”\n\n“If you can go by that in law enforcement, you will have an excellent career,” Michael says.\n\nMichael has invested much of his time and effort in his students and players to help them work toward a bright future. It is easily said that his stern, caring, and hardworking character has enabled him to impact the lives of many so far, and will only empower him to continue to do so in the future.', 'A heart for law enforcement ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12403-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12403, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12403-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12751, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '<img class="alignleft  wp-image-1464" style="margin-left: 3px; margin-right: 3px; border: black 1px solid;" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Rebecca-FreitagRESIZED.jpg" alt="Rebecca Freitag SJVC Pharmacy Tech Student " width="158" height="210" />Rebecca Freitag-Hunden’s 4-year olds, Alexxis and Alexander, were in school and her 17-year old daughter, Melissa, was in her last year of high school, so she thought this would be a good time to try something new. She told her husband, David, “I need to go to school and learn how to do something.”<a title="San Joaquin Valley College " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/" target="_blank"> SJVC’s </a><a title="SJVC Pharmacy Technolgoy Program " href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology" target="_blank">Pharmacy Tech</a> program was just the ticket to break her 17-year stay-at-home-mom streak.\n\nRebecca’s excitement to begin again was short-lived when the realities of being a student kicked in. “They threw all this stuff at me,” says Rebecca. “It was like a foreign language to me.” She struggled hard, but began to fail classes. “My greatest obstacle was memorizing things…and overcoming my own stupidity!” she says.\n\nThe days passed slowly. “The more I went, the dumber I felt,” she confesses. David said what turned out to be the magic words: “Just try one more day.” “Three months later, I’m still here,” she laughs. “He’s a pretty amazing guy.” Life as a student has changed for Rebecca. “I went from Fs in my first ‘mod’ to As the last 2-months; so I’m pretty proud.”\n\nThe kids rallied around her too. Melissa became Rebecca’s drill instructor. “Missy showed me how to do PowerPoint and quizzes me every night on daily terminology,” she says. “She is a great kid and I am grateful she is my daughter.”\n\n“Alexxis always asks me, ‘Mommy, how was your school today; did you play on the playground?’” Alexander’s response is the most dramatic. “He runs to me every day when I get home,” says Rebecca. For Alex, that is a big reaction.\n\nAlexander is autistic and doesn’t usually have a big response to things. “Alex doesn’t give two hoots about people,” says Rebecca, who loves Alex’s little ‘welcome home’ acknowledgement. “He came to us when he was 7-months old and had been very neglected,” says Rebecca. “At 5-months, his diaper weighed more than he did.” Alex is sensitive to bright lights and loud sounds and doesn’t talk, except for an occasional word or two. “He says ‘awesome’ and ‘delicious’ and does his little hand-dancing game with his hands fluttering close to his face,” she says.\n\nThe Hesperia campus recently celebrated the world-wide ‘Light it Up Blue’ Shine a Light on Autism campaign to raise awareness of this neurological disorder. The campus lobby and other common areas were illuminated in blue, many students were dressed in blue and message boards contained blue bulletins is support of autism awareness. “I came to school and saw the building lit up in blue and just cried,” says Rebecca.\n\nNo matter what comes her way, Rebecca stays positive. “Every day I laugh and have a good time,” she says. When all the campuses competed in the ‘Harlem Shake’ Rebecca was right out there with other students, giving it all she’s got. “Missy always tells me, ‘YOLO, Mom, YOLO!’” You Only Live Once. Or as Rebecca says, “Every once in a while you gotta get out there and shake!”', 'Attitude makes all the difference ', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12398-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12398, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12398-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12752, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC02449.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1274" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/DSC02449-290x290.jpg" alt="DSC02449" width="290" height="290" /></a>Everywhere you look you see blue. The <a title="SJVC Victor Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley">Hesperia</a> campus lobby and other common areas were illuminated with blue, many students were dressed in blue and message boards contained blue bulletins about “Light it Up Blue”, “Shining a light on Autism” to raise awareness for this world-wide event. The Empire State Building, the Sydney Opera house in Australia and the Leaning Tower of Pisa join hundreds of famous buildings and landmarks across many countries to share bright blue support for the national organization, Autism Speaks.\n\n<a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a> Diversity Committee members, Lauren Brown (Financial Aid Officer) and Misty Christensen (Dean of Students) felt it important to help educate students about this neurological disorder that affects so many children and impacts families everywhere. “We wanted to educate our students about autism because it is a disorder that makes those with it feel different from others and, especially since so many of our students are in medical programs, they should know more about this,” says Lauren Brown.\n\nLauren’s 13-year old son, Brendon, has autism on the moderate-severe spectrum and has sensory processing disorder that causes him to shy away from social interaction with others. “I felt it was important for students and staff to understand that autism is not a noticeable disability and often takes a psychologist, specialist and pediatrician, along with a battery of assessments, to diagnose autism,” says Lauren, whose son was not diagnosed until he was 6-years old.\n\n“Everyone knows someone who is either directly or indirectly affected by this,” says Lauren.  “When we were getting ready to do this event we found staff and students who had a child affected by autism,” she says. Most had few resources for their child and struggled to find support for families and appropriate therapy and education options.\n\nAutism spectrum disorder includes Asperger’s syndrome and presents a broad scale of behavior and sensitivity severity. Misty Christensen’s 5-year old son, McAllister, has Asperger’s syndrome, “called the Little Professor’s disease,” she offers. “McAllister is high-functioning and very intelligent,” says Misty, “but has some social deficiencies.” McAllister exhibits a sensory processing disorder that makes the touch of some clothing, such as jeans, on his skin unbearable. “It’s hard for them (with Asperger’s) to know where their bodies are in space,” says Misty, whose son sometimes feels like things are crawling all over his body. It helps for McAllister to wear weighted vests to better orient his physical body.\n\nChildren with autism or Asperger’s Syndrome may:\n<ul>\n	<li>Be overly sensitive in sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste (for example, they may refuse to wear "itchy" clothes and become distressed if they are forced to wear the clothes)</li>\n	<li>Have unusual distress when routines are changed</li>\n	<li>Perform repeated body movements</li>\n	<li>Show unusual attachments to objects</li>\n</ul>\nCommunication and social interaction problems may vary from moderate to severe.\n\nThe Hesperia campus provided students with a PowerPoint presentation to educate them about autism and the importance of awareness. Throughout April the campus held fundraisers, dress-down days, and raffles and sold blue cotton candy to raise money for Autism Speaks.\n\nOne percent of the U.S. population, age 3-17, has an autism spectrum disorder. Other important statistics:\n<ul>\n	<li>Autism affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys (Boys are 5 times more likely than girls to have autism)</li>\n	<li>Autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the U.S.</li>\n	<li>Autism cost a family an average of $60,000 a year to manage treatment</li>\n	<li>Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding given less prevalent childhood diseases</li>\n	<li>There is no medical detection or cure for autism</li>\n</ul>\nMisty Christensen’s son’s occupational therapist said, “Autism is a spectrum, and everybody is on it somewhere.”\n\n“This event left a huge impression on our staff, faculty and students,” says Lauren Brown. And, those who came forward with their personal stories of struggle with this disorder within their own families were glad to see their campus become a part of autism awareness.\n\nThere is so little support and few resources within local communities for families of children with autism or Asperger’s.  Misty, who says at 18-months old, McAllister lay down for a nap and woke up with severe behavior changes “as though a light switch was flipped,” has struggled to find help. “It was really, really hard,” she says. “We are so underserviced in our area.”\n\nThe Hesperia campus can be part of bringing autism awareness, not only to students, staff and faculty, but to their community.  “Our people here who have children with autism and Asperger’s can be the change that brings the resources to their children and this area,” says Lauren Smith.\n\nFor more information about autism spectrum disorder visit autismspeaks.org.', 'Hesperia Lets it Shine for Autism', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12388-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12388, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12388-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12753, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '<img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1204" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/SJVC-Facebook-Tshirts-290x290.jpg" alt="SJVC Facebook Tshirts" width="290" height="290" /><a title="SJVC Victor Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley/">Hesperia</a> students, this is the month for you to buy some of our new motivational T-shirts, because THIS is the month your campus will get $1.00 for every one sold!\n\nAnd, the proceeds are going to a very good cause on your campus. Your Student Support Fund provides students with a little help with everything from a few groceries and diapers to bus passes and gas card. Everyone needs a little help now and then, and students on the Hesperia campus know their Student Support Fund is there to do just that.\n\nEach month a different campus benefits from the sale of our new motivational T-shirts because, with each sale, $1.00 is tagged for however that campus wants to use it. Last month the Visalia campus donated their earnings to the Central Valley March of Dimes.\n\nThese SJVC tees have proven popular among students and sales are going great. The t-shirts, with messages of commitment, inspiration, humor and insight are showing up on dress-down days and off-campus events.\n\nJust remember, when you buy and wear one of <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">SJVC</a>’s new, motivational T-shirts, you are showing school pride and helping other students through a rough patch, at the same time. Looking good…feeling good.  Helping, celebrating each other in our global SJVC family.\n\nEveryone can help the Hesperia campus to raise money for their Student Support Fund. Browse the selections at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SJVCs/app_515661228485859">https://www.facebook.com/SJVCs/app_515661228485859</a>.  T-shirts can be purchased for $6.00, using Paypal or a credit card on SJVC’s Facebook page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/sjvcs">www.facebook.com/sjvcs</a>.  There is no charge for shipping if you pick up your purchase at your campus Student Center; otherwise it is $4.00 to send it elsewhere. SJVC is selling the T-shirts to you at cost – plus a dollar donation to a fellow campus.\n\nNext month (June), Modesto will be the campus to benefit from t-shirt sales. Bakersfield Campus will benefit in July.', 'May T-shirt Sales to Boost Hesperia Campus'' Student Support Fund', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12384-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12384, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12384-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12754, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DSC05569.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1086" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/DSC05569-290x290.jpg" alt="DSC05569" width="290" height="290" /></a>Staff and faculty at the Hesperia campus are all on board for a <i>Go Green</i> campaign to replace Styrofoam cups in their employee lounge with travel mugs and lids. Misty Christensen, Dean of Student Services, came up with the idea in a management meeting when Facilities Manager, Mike Shuster, asked for ways the college might decrease supplies spending by 5% over the next year.\n\n“It just makes sense and would be fairly easy to do,” says Misty. Everyone agreed. Monday, Feb. 11<sup>th</sup> is the target date for the conversion. The approximately 80 staff and faculty members will bring their mugs from home to enjoy during breaks and find them fresh out of the dishwasher at the start of each new day.\n\nBut, the campaign impacts more than the fairly modest cost-savings realized from taking Styrofoam cups off the supply list. “Styrofoam cannot be completely recycled and will pile up in landfills for 500 years,” says Misty. “Also, when it is heated the harmful chemicals in Styrofoam can leach out into hot food.” The advantages of replacing Styrofoam cups are threefold: curbs costs, protects the environment and provides health benefits.\n\nStyrofoam is the brand name of a plastic product whose generic name is polystyrene. Here are a few facts that convinced SJVC staff and faculty to kick the Styrofoam habit.\n\n<b>Health effects:</b>\n<ul>\n	<li>Irritation of the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal effects. Chronic exposure affects the central nervous system showing symptoms such as depression, headache, fatigue, and weakness, and can cause minor effects on kidney function and blood. Styrene is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).*</li>\n	<li>This material is notorious for breaking up into pieces that choke animals and clog their digestive systems.*</li>\n	<li>Toxic chemicals leach out of these products into the food that they contain (especially when heated in a microwave). These chemicals threaten human health and reproductive systems.*</li>\n	<li>These products are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource.*</li>\n</ul>\n&nbsp;\n\n<b>Earth effects:</b>\n<ul>\n	<li>Americans throw away 25,000,000,000 Styrofoam coffee cups every year. **</li>\n	<li>Styrofoam is non-biodegradable and non-recyclable. According to Washington University, Styrofoam takes 500 years to decompose; it cannot be recycled, so the Styrofoam cups dumped in landfills are there to stay. With enough Styrofoam cups produced each day to circle the earth if lined up end to end, the potential for major ecological impact is great.**</li>\n	<li>Polystyrene recycling is not "closed loop" - collected polystyrene cups are not remanufactured into cups, but into other products, such as packing filler and cafeteria trays. This means that more resources will have to be used, and more pollution created, to produce more polystyrene cups.*</li>\n</ul>\n“I never liked seeing all the Styrofoam cups in the trash can and am happy we are all going to do something about it,” says Misty.\n\nThis just may be an idea that catches fire. Already the campus is looking at ways to take the green plunge even deeper. Creative thinking includes the possibility of recycling in the student break room, declaring a Paper-free Day for the school where all of the usual paper-driven correspondence and assignments are done electronically, and introducing a carpool initiative that builds a database to promote student ride-sharing. The side benefit to a sophisticated ride-share system is the potential to impact student attendance, enrollment/census and a positive effect on the environment with decreased auto emissions.\n\nHesperia staff and faculty launching the <i>Go Green </i>campaign are using posters, e-mail reminders and active word-of-mouth to keep the momentum strong.\n\nIf all the SJVC campuses take Hesperia’s prototype and make it work on their campuses, an even greater dent will be made toward costs, environmental concerns and individual health.\n\n*Source - Earth Resource Foundation – Costa Mesa, CA\n\n**Source - Live Strong\n\n&nbsp;', 'Hesperia Campus Goes Green', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12364-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12364, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12364-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
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(12755, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Virginia-Ochoa-HESP-STUDENT-picture.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-729" title="Virginia Ochoa HESP STUDENT picture" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Virginia-Ochoa-HESP-STUDENT-picture-290x213.jpg" alt="" width="290" height="213" /></a>After being sick for a long amount of time and missing a lot of school, most students would become discouraged and think that they can never go back to school. Virginia Ochoa a <a title="Pharmacy Technology" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology/">pharmacy tech</a> student at <a href="http://www.sjvc.edu/" data-blogger-escaped-target="_blank">SJVC''s</a> Hesperia campus, she decided to give school one more try.\n\nHaving been out of high school for over a decade, she was swamped with working full time and thinking that she would never have time to go back to school. After a lot of thinking and research she decided that there was no better time than the present for her to further her education.\n\nAt first getting back into school was difficult for Ochoa, as it is an accelerated program and a lot faster than the way school was back when she was in high school, however she had the mindset that she was going to pass.\n\n“I want to get A’s and I’m not going to settle for anything less than A’s and that’s what kept my mind frame going. This is what I got to do.”\n\nThis determination carried on even when Ochoa hit a rough patch. After getting sick and being hospitalized she was worried that she was not going to be able to finish the program. However her instructors were there every step of the way. She managed to stay on top of everything and even raise her grade from failing to passing with a B. At this point she knew that she was going to be able to finish the program.\n\nWith the help of her instructors and the other students in the program, Ochoa can personally encourage any other study that is afraid to start or becomes frustrated during the program.\n\n“Don’t be afraid to ask questions; don’t be afraid to say hey I’m struggling, I need help. Don’t be afraid to put that hand out because there’s always a hand that’s going to help you and pull you back in.”', 'SJVC Student Gives School One More Try', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12308-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12308, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12308-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12756, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '<img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-161" title="SAMSUNG" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Angels-on-the-Tree-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /><a title="SJVC Victor Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley/">Hesperia</a> students who may be struggling to provide Christmas gifts for their children were encouraged to put an angel on the tree in the Student Center.  The angels provided a place to list their child’s age and gender, then staff, faculty and other students took the angels to buy age and gender appropriate gifts for the children.\n\nMore than seventy angels were placed on the tree and every angel was provided with a gift.  The gifts were wrapped and placed in the Student Center so that parents could come pick up the gifts to present to their children from “Santa.”  With the success of this year’s Angels on the Tree, the Student Center has decided to expand the angels next year to allow staff and faculty in need to place an angel on the tree that will include clothing sizes and a wish list from each child.', 'Hesperia Shares the Christmas Spirit', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12287-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12287, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12287-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12757, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/P9210914.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-100" title="Students with the elderly" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/P9210914-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>As part of the Diversity Committee’s Peace Day celebration this year, <a title="SJVC Victor Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley/">Hesperia </a>encouraged community service. Two of Hesperia’s CMA and AHCM classes visited the Sterling Inn Assisted Living Facility to walk for peace and talk with the residents. The students, joined by instructors Franshella Hopkins and Staci Porter, and Diversity Committee member DaShannon Mason, escorted the residents in a walk around the Victorville, CA facility.\n\n“Peace One Day [was] an awesome day. It was my first time visiting a facility like Sterling and it was interesting. I got to meet different people and [hear] stories about their life when they were younger. I have lived with my Grandparents for about half of my life, but this experience was totally different,” stated AHCM student Maricel Naraval.\n\n“It was an amazing visit at the Sterling Inn. It was an experience I will never forget. There, Joe, Frank, Bob, and John shared stories of war times and even a little bit of personal life stories,” began AHCM student Debra Eversole as she recounted a story shared with her about a man who left the love of his life to go to war. “He came back after 2 years and married the girl he had promised. He went on with his story and broke out with tears. They were married and 7 years later she was diagnosed with breast cancer and passed.”\n\nEversole stated that seeing this man cry allowed her to open up and share her own stories. “I would like to thank the ones responsible for this field trip.\n\nStudent Trynicia Patterson reflected: “This was a great experience for me because I would have never visited the facility on my own, and it inspired me to want to volunteer there.”\n\nThe favorite thing that student Chelsea Martin was told, “look forward to getting old, because when you find someone as special as him [gesturing to her friend she met at the facility] it makes it all worthwhile”.\n\nThe Sterling Inn Peace Walk coincided with the campus’ walk down Main Street Hesperia. Two hundred students, faculty, staff and community members joined in the walk, some carrying signs with messages like “Honk for Peace” and “End domestic violence.”', 'Hesperia Celebrates Peace One Day by Assisting the Elderly', '"It is so good to be part of a school that interacts with the community. These seniors were beautiful people and it was a wonderful experience getting to know them.”', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12276-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12276, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12276-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12758, 4, '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '[caption id="attachment_86" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/HesperaCampus.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-86" title="HesperaCampus" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/HesperaCampus-300x184.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="184" /></a> SJVC''s Hesperia campus[/caption]\n\n<a title="SJVC Victor Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/victor-valley/">San Joaquin Valley College in Hesperia</a> is offering a <a title="Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/heating-ventilation-air-conditioning-and-refrigeration/">Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC-R) </a>program to its Technology program line-up beginning Monday, October 17<sup>th</sup>.\n\nThe high desert area’s continued growth of industry in need of these specialized services, an influx of new manufacturers, the expansion of Southern California Logistics Airport and new home construction make this career a smart choice for many.\n\n“Students have been inquiring about this type of career training since we first opened our doors two years ago,” says Melanie Blackwell, Hesperia Campus Director. “San Joaquin Valley College <a title="SJVC" href="http://www.sjvc.edu">(SJVC)</a> is happy to finally offer this program to them, and one which also fits the needs of employers in our area,” she says.\n\nThe HVAC-R program at SJVC teaches students about the operation, maintenance and repair of residential and commercial equipment. A hands-on approach to instruction prepares graduates to enter the field with the skill, knowledge and confidence to succeed in this high-demand field. This program has been a success for students, employers and communities at several other SJVC campuses.\n\nSJVC’s Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration class will be offered Monday-Thursday evenings from 5:30 pm – 10:15 pm, with an 18-seat capacity. The Hesperia campus also offers seven other Medical, Business and Technology programs.\n\nGraduates of this accelerated program earn an Associate of Science degree along with EPA Certification, HVAC Excellence, and Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) certification.\n\nSan Joaquin Valley College is a private Junior college in business since 1977. SJVC provides students with the opportunity to earn a certificate and/or Associate of Science degree in over 20 Business, Medical and Technical programs. SJVC is regionally accredited by the Accrediting Commission for community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.\n\nSan Joaquin Valley College is a private Junior college with 11-campuses and an online campus and has served California communities for 34 years. Please see <a href="http://www.SJVC.edu">SJVC.edu</a> for more information about the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program or other Business, Medical or Technical program.', 'SJVC Expands the HVAC Program', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12275-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:35:11', '2014-09-25 22:35:11', '', 12275, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12275-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12759, 4, '2014-09-25 15:37:53', '2014-09-25 22:37:53', '<a href="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/jose2.jpg"><img class="alignleft wp-image-2895 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/jose2-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Jose Perez Hurtado never thought much about airplanes. He never had that kid’s dream of flying one or taking one apart. They all kind of looked the same to him and were, so far as he was concerned, just a nice way to get from Point A to Point B.\n\nJose worked for a company that provided security for special events like concerts and sports competitions – even covering NFL games that let him see the 49ers wow the crowd. Three years ago he joined the National Guard and after a couple of years found himself in Afghanistan for a year providing combat support as a gunner in a mine-resistant, ambush-protected military all-terrain vehicle (M-ATV).\n\n“I really like helping people and thought helping the country would make me feel better and proud,” says Jose. “I also knew that the veteran’s benefits would help me with school.”\n\nBack in Fresno last year, twenty-two year old Jose was looking for work with a Sheriff’s Department when his mom, Laureen, suggested he check out SJVC’s <a title="Aviation Maintenance Technology program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/aviation-maintenance-technology/" target="_blank">Aviation Maintenance Technology</a> program. She had enrolled just three months earlier and was excited about what she was learning and what kind of a career she could have when she graduated. It took less than a month for Jose to make up his mind.\n\n“I thought I’d take a chance and learn something new,” says Jose. Good move.\n\nLots of things in the AMT program were a nice fit for Jose. “I’m amazed that I’m having fun with this at the same time I’m learning,” he says. “Right now we’re working on assembling an aircraft wing and my favorite part is whenever we have something hands-on.” Jose admits to picking up things pretty quickly.\n\nHe also likes all of the support he gets from teachers and how students help each other out.\n\n“It’s the way teachers take their time to explain every detail,” says Jose. “Even though courses are really fast-paced, they take the time to make sure every student understands the subject thoroughly before they move on.”\n\nJose explains how students take care of each other; not just in the classroom and hangar, but as a family might.\n\n“The whole school is like a family, so they will take time out of their lives to help you out,” he says. “Gas money, food, rides – whatever you need,” someone steps in to help.\n\nJose talks about a student who had to drive an hour each way every day from Visalia and a fellow student let him sleep on his couch during the week to save on commute time and gas. “We’re all willing to help each other with what you need,” he says.\n\nJose and his mom have been a big source of support for each other throughout the program. Even though Laureen started the AMT program 4-months before Jose, they occasionally share some classes.\n\n“Jose represents 50% of an outstanding mother/son team at the <a title="SJVC Aviation" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/aviation-campus/" target="_blank">Aviation Maintenance campus</a>,” says Jack Macfarlane, Campus Director.\n\n“I never thought I’d be going to school with my own mom,” says Jose. “At first I didn’t think it was ‘cool’, but as the days and months went by I realized it wasn’t so bad.” That is not to say that it does not get just a little competitive.\n\nWe help each other with homework, study together, quiz each other and, of course, we compete against one another,” says Jose. “At the end of the day we still have that strong bond, no matter who may have won the quiz war.”\n\nJose is a disciplined guy. He and AMT friend, Matt Kitavong, hit the gym every day after school and Saturdays for a 90-minute workout. It is a different story on Sundays.\n\n“Sundays I just relax, watch movies and eat all day,” Jose laughs. Even then, if he catches sight of a plane overhead, he wonders what type of aircraft it is and about its mechanical and operational components and capacities. His aviation career seeds are firmly planted.\n\nThe thing that pushes Jose the most to succeed in the AMT program is the independence he will gain with these in-demand skills.\n\n“I don’t want to stay in Fresno forever,” he says. “I want to go to SoCal, get a career and buy my first house. Airframe and Powerplant mechanics are retiring, so that means more positions and job opportunities are available.”\n\nJose has big plans for a life he never before imagined.', 'Brand new idea for a new life', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12531-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:37:53', '2014-09-25 22:37:53', '', 12531, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12531-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12760, 4, '2014-09-25 15:37:53', '2014-09-25 22:37:53', '<img class="alignleft wp-image-2821 size-medium" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/laureenb-300x180.jpg" alt="Laureen Hurtato" width="300" height="180" />Laureen Hurtado was enjoying the good life. She had a steady job, was making good money running equipment for a production plant near the home she and her wife, Gloria shared. Laureen had been in a community college nursing program for five years, trying to make the best of a lottery system that made getting the classes she needed a waiting game. Life was busy, but manageable.\n\nThen, their world turned upside down. Laureen and Gloria separated and the next month Laureen lost her job. She moved out of California for four months, picking up janitorial work in a hospital, before coming back and reconciling with Gloria. Meanwhile they lost their house to foreclosure and went into a financial tailspin. As bad as things were, Laureen felt one spot of relief.\n\n“Nursing was good money, but not something I really liked,” Laureen was surprised to realize. “That whole thing about people being sick; I was depressed the whole time I was working in the hospital.”\n\nBut Laureen’s natural talent of ‘putting things together and tearing them apart’ did not have a focus. “And there are 500 applicants for every one of those jobs,” she says. “I didn’t have any job skills; I didn’t have a degree, and that’s the first thing people ask you. What can you bring to a company besides just working.”\n\nShe remembered SJVC’s <a title="Aviation Maintenance Technology program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/aviation-maintenance-technology/" target="_blank">Aviation Maintenance Technician</a> program in Fresno and thought that might be what she needed.\n\n“I figured aviation because anyone can be a car mechanic,” she explains. “I wanted to work on something with more responsibility, more prestige and better for the job market. Not too many people can say, ‘that’s my job, working on planes.’ That’s the thing that did it for me.”\n\nHer financial situation made going back to school unrealistic, but she made the appointment.\n\n“Pam, the Financial Aid Advisor, told me about a veteran’s program that would provide job retraining financing, and I was really ecstatic about it,” says Laureen, who was a Marine Corps veteran. She was in!\n\nHer first days in class were pretty overwhelming, and her first subject was Physics. “I thought, oh my gosh, I’m going to have to learn all of this! I didn’t feel I was going to make it,” says Laureen.\n\nTwo things helped her push through. Even though they were struggling to live on one income and trying to make a $20 tank of gas last all week, “Gloria supported me and encouraged me.”\n\nThen, Laureen read a <em>Student Spotlight </em>on a SJVC social media site about a fellow Aviation student, Michael McGee, who was also struggling to hang on.\n\n“He was like me, an older adult trying to find a good job for his family,” says Laureen. “He was applying for welfare, and I had the Vet Administration to help me out. I read other stories about students who were struggling and made it, and I just had to keep going and give it my best shot.”\n\nOf all the things Laureen had gone through that kept her down and away from success, she knew her greatest obstacle was…herself.\n\n“I have to remind myself every day – and I’ve been like this for as long as I remember – <em>It doesn’t count unless you finish</em>,” says Laureen. “I’ve always started something and never finished it. I’m at the point where I can’t do that anymore.”\n\nLaureen polished off her Marine Corp discipline. She made the Dean’s List and maintains a 3.50 GPA. She inspired her son, Jose, to enroll at the <a title="SJVC Aviation" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/aviation-campus/" target="_blank">Aviation campus</a> soon after she did, and they enjoy a spirit of competition that has them constantly bumping each other from the academic top spot.\n\n“Laureen is an outstanding student and mentor,” says Jack Macfarlane, Aviation Campus Director. “Both Laureen and her son, Jose, are progressing smartly through the program and I have no doubt that they will each contribute to the field of aviation in the near future.”\n\n“This not just school, it is having my life back,” says Laureen. “I do get excited when I think about the future. The idea of being able to travel and not be stuck somewhere because you don’t know how to do anything else.”\n\nShe is philosophical about recent struggles. “If all these bad things hadn’t happened to me, I would not be taking things as seriously as I do now.”\n\nScheduled to graduate in September, Laureen is looking forward to earning her A&amp;P license and a new career in a field that excites her.\n\n“I just keep thinking that the possibilities are endless,” she says.', 'Aviation student turns crises into opportunity', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12526-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:37:53', '2014-09-25 22:37:53', '', 12526, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12526-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12761, 4, '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '[caption id="attachment_2393" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2393" title="Jeff Ball with his wife Jaime" alt="Jeff Ball with his wife Jaime" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/jeff2-300x248.jpg" width="300" height="248" /> Atfer 17 years of working for Barnes and Noble, Jeff decided to look into a different career, to become trained in something a bit more hands-on, more technical.[/caption]\n\nYou might not think Jeff Ball is someone you would find in Fresno’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program. He spent 17-years with Barnes and Noble in positions that began with selling books and ended in management.\n\n“I wore every hat in that building,” he laughs.\n\nJeff left that long-term association, briefly worked a retail job, and then took a few months off last summer to spend some time with his family-to-be: Jaime, daughters Madeline and Katherine and son Christian. It was a time for new beginnings.\n\nJeff got married in October and in November he made a decision to go back to school. He did a lot of research to find a career direction that would excite him and provide a stable future for his family. <a title="Aviation Maintenance Technology program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/aviation-maintenance-technology/" target="_blank">Aviation maintenance</a> might not have been his first thought for exploration, but the more he checked it out, the more it made perfect sense.\n\n“I was always the kid who tore things apart,” says Jeff. “I’ve always been fairly mechanical and inclined toward problem-solving. I researched the job market and just went in this direction.”\n\nHe started the AMT program last November and immediately jumped to the front of the class.\n\n“Jeff is a high achieving, model student who is always eager to help others,” says Lionel Smith, Airframe instructor at the <a title="SJVC Aviation" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/aviation-campus/" target="_blank">Fresno Aviation</a> campus, located at the Fresno Yosemite International airport. “He is an active participant in the Student Council, maintains a solid 4.0 GPA, and he was selected as the Student of the AERO for March.”\n\nJeff especially likes the balance of classroom study with lots of hangar time.\n\n“I get to do cool hands-on stuff every day, and work with a great group of guys – and a couple of girls here too,” he says. “This definitely has more of the cool factor. You’re working on planes!”\n\nOne of Jeff’s favorite projects was when each student had to put together a ‘Buzz Box’. They were given a “bag of parts” to make into an actual electronic working circuit, a task that would take several hours during their spare class time. Jeff was first to finish.\n\n“It lets out an audible tone when you have everything adjusted correctly,” says Jeff, so it was pretty clear who hit the finish line first. “After I was done doing mine, I had the knowledge to help my fellow students finish and get theirs running.”\n\nJeff was not sure how demanding his AMT program would be on his life, so he made the decision to not work, but devote his full attention to his studies. Almost six months in, however, he has found that he can complete his program requirements while he is at school. This leaves him free to enjoy his family each day and help his kids with their schoolwork. Jeff feels his family’s support too.\n\n“It really does help that Jaine and the kids are proud of me for going to school,” says Jeff. “My son came to see the campus and see what I do. Their support helps me stay focused.”\n\nOne of the primary reasons Jeff was so confident in the success he could achieve from the Aviation Maintenance Tech program, was the versatility of career choices after graduation.\n\n“What is really nice about our program is you don’t have to work in the aviation industry,” he says. “You can work on vehicles for agriculture picking, hydraulics, escalators and elevators, because the certification is backed up by FAA and carries a lot of weight. You can actually work on roller coasters! Right now I’m really enjoying working on planes,” says Jeff.\n\nJeff is also appreciative of the job search support he will get at SJVC.\n\n“Another reason for me to come to SJVC is we’ve got a Job Placement Specialist,” he says. “She has years of networking in this industry, which is a very big help to some of us just stepping into the field.”\n\nVisions of Boeing, URS, and Blackhawks swirl in his future. SkyWest Airlines has hired several AMT graduates from SJVC’s Aviation campus.\n\nJeff ponders that possibility. “We’d get to fly for free!”', 'Student likes versatility of Aviation program', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12511-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '', 12511, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12511-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12762, 4, '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '[caption id="attachment_2328" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2328" title="Shaun Hudson-Gilpin" alt="Shaun Hudson-Gilpin" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Hudson-Gilpin-Shaun-300x250.jpg" width="300" height="250" /> After spending his adult life jumping from one odd job to the next, Shaun realized that he needed to go back to school to get the career he wanted.[/caption]\n\nShaun Hudson-Gilpin is a self-appointed Ambassador-at-Large for San Joaquin Valley College’s <a title="SJVC Antelope Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/antelope-valley/" target="_blank">Lancaster</a> campus. Once he discovered what a perfect fit the <a title="Medical Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting</a> program was for him, he made certain that others in his personal orbit explored their career destinies at SJVC, as well.\n\nShaun brought his buddy Marcos when he dropped in to check out medical programs at the campus. Admissions Advisor Crystal Molina asked him lots of questions to help him find his perfect career match.\n\n“Crystal knows how to pick your brain so that she can direct you to the right path,” says Shaun.\n\nMarcos was inspired to enroll that day, as well, but in the Criminal Justice program. “Marcos is excited about his program, and thanks me every day,” says Shaun.\n\nAt twenty-five Shaun had spent a few years trying out different jobs. It wasn’t until he lost his customer service job at a local bank that he put on the brakes and decided that he wasn’t going to get ahead without going back to school.\n\nHis brother, Michael had studied hard to become an Emergency Medical Technician, and his sister, Brianna was in community college taking all the prerequisites necessary to get into a nursing program.\n\n“I had worked since I was out of high school and never had the time to go to college,” says Shaun. “But, now I had the free time and the opportunity to get a degree.”\n\nShaun threw himself into his education and found that his instincts for a medical career were spot on…with just one small area of concern.\n\n“Drawing blood was hard for me in the beginning,” he says. “It’s a 5-week course and it took me 3-weeks to work up the courage and confidence to stick a needle in someone else’s arm. Now I feel like a vampire, always feeling for good veins,” he laughs.\n\nHis amazing progress was not lost on Brianna, who was still struggling to get the classes she needed. She decided that Shaun’s was a better and more direct route to a nursing career, so she soon followed suit at SJVC.\n\nSince enrolling, Shaun has participated in every single orientation for new students. He assists with breakfast set-up, helps students to get settled, gives them information about programs and stands by for any testimonial input requested by SJVC presenters. Shaun has ‘sleeve’ tattoos and is occasionally asked to talk to students about how body art might be camouflaged for a work environment.\n\nShaun says that Campus Director, Joel Morgan has called out to him during orientation, “Shaun, come up here and model for us.” Shaun will show his tatts and explain about special detachable sleeves that athletes wear, which work well and are more comfortable in warm weather, than long-sleeved shirts.\n\nMainly, Shaun wants to make sure that these new students know they have found the right place to get their careers lined up. He wants them to know that they have found a home.\n\n“A lot of the time you are in different classes with lots of the same people and you feed each others’ good energy,” says Shaun. It is family-oriented here. Students, staff, teachers; everyone gets close.”\n\nShaun doesn’t miss a chance to recruit more friends and family toward education and a better career path through SJVC.\n\nHis friend Zac didn’t know what he wanted to do with his life. Shaun brought him in to see Crystal and as he promised Zac, she got to the heart of his natural talents and career fit. “Zac started the Business program in December and is in Academic Excellence, too,” says Shaun, who already has another friend lined up for the Industrial Tech program.\n\nShaun credits Crystal with providing the insight and support he and his friends have needed to pursue their educational and career success.\n\n“Other college advisors are like, ‘welcome…goodbye’”, says Shaun. “She has tons of patience and empathizes very well. She’s there for us for the long-term.”\n\nShaun’s ultimate goal is to get a B.A. degree in nursing and eventual certification in anesthesiology.\n\n“I know the things I want in life and where I want to be,” says Shaun. “I want to go to Russia for the World Cup – I’m a die-hard soccer fan. I <b>will</b> be at the Summer Olympics in Brazil in 2016. I want to be financially able to do pretty much whatever I like.”\n\nWe are happy to have helped ignite the fire for that future.', 'CAMA student is passionate recruiter', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12502-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '', 12502, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12502-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12763, 4, '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '[caption id="attachment_2254" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2254 " title="Matthew Goldman" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Goldman-300x225.jpg" alt="Matthew Goldman" width="300" height="225" /> In the military, Matthew worked a dog handler for Military Police. As a civilian, he hopes to continue working with canines, after a new career of course.[/caption]\n\nAfter seeing his grandfather serve, Matthew Goldman knew he wanted to join the military. An injury sustained in the service would change all that, resulting in him being discharged and having to find a new way of living.\n\n“The military was part of my life from a very young age,” says Matthew.\n\nHis grandfather was an officer of the Air Force and, because his grandparents raised him, Matthew spent most of his childhood moving across the country. Wherever they were, his grandfather made sure to take his grandson to the nearest Air Force Base and show him around.\n\n“I remember seeing all the planes and knew right from that moment that the Air Force was for me,” says Matthew.\n\nIn 2001, inspired by the example of his grandfather, Matthew enlisted in the Air Force. In the service, he worked with canines. At one point he even worked on the Presidential dog team security detail.\n\nDuring this time he also met his future wife, a fellow service member. Unfortunately, it was also during this time that Matthew was injured.\n\nMatthew had served for 12 years by the time his injury caught up with him. In 2013 he was medically retired, cutting short his lifelong dream of a career in the military.\n\nMatthew was a civilian again. His first real problem was simply deciding what to do with his life now that he was out. His wife was still in the Air Force, so she would be moving frequently from base to base. Matt needed to find a line of work that would let him easily follow her.\n\nMatthew looked for educational opportunities in the Lancaster area, while waiting for his wife to receive new orders. After finding relatively few in his research, he happened upon SJVC. The <a title="SJVC Antelope Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/antelope-valley/" target="_blank">Lancaster</a> campus offered a program that would allow him to stay close with his wife while she finished her military career.\n\n<a title="Pharmacy Technology program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology/" target="_blank">Pharmacy technology</a> was the program that best served his interests. The idea was that there would have to be a hospital or medical clinic at or near every Air Force base his wife could be stationed at, meaning that he could possibly find work in the pharmacy. There was also the hope of continuing his work from the military, by using his pharmaceutical knowledge to work with drug-sniffing dogs. With a clear mind for the future, he enrolled.\n\nAs a student, Matthew has had little trouble.\n\n“He’s very organized, reserved, and diligent,” says Bunnie Cervantes, Pharmacy Technology instructor. “He’s always eager to learn.”\n\nHe admits though, that his math skills have gotten rusty over the years.\n\nAt the age of 33, Matt is still quite young, but he is still older than most of his classmates.\n\n“So many of the students are young,” says Bunnie. “They really appreciate his knowledge of the world.”\n\nWhen Veteran’s day rolled around last year, it reminded Matt just who he was, and those around him exactly what the day is all about.\n\n“We take these holidays as days off, for granted,” says Bunnie. “He’s so young, but he’s seen so many things, much more than most of us will.”\n\nEspecially trying was the recent death of Matthew’s grandfather, the man who had served in the Air Force for a quarter of a century before retiring as a Major, the man who inspired Matt to choose the life he did. Every Veteran’s day he is reminded.\n\n“Of all the death and chaos that I have witnessed in my career, burying my grandfather was the most difficult thing I ever had to do,” says Matthew. “But I know one day we will be reunited and I’ll be sitting next to him sharing ‘war stories’. Until that time comes I will make it an effort to thank all those who have served before me to ensure they are not forgotten.”\n\nAfter graduating, Matt will try to keep up with his wife’s deployments, until she retires from the military. At that point, it is their shared dream to open a home business in dog breeding. Currently, he works with Wounded Warrior Project.', 'Veteran looks for new career after 12 years in Air Force', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12496-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '', 12496, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12496-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12764, 4, '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '[caption id="attachment_2082" align="alignleft" width="204"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2082" title="Chelsy Samuels and her little sister Kellie" alt="Chelsy Samuels and her little sister Kellie" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/2-204x300.jpg" width="204" height="300" /> Chelsy Samuels has had a difficult life so far, but she still has worked hard to provide for her little sister.[/caption]\n\nTwenty year old Chelsy Samuels never had a role model to guide her through difficult decisions or show her how to navigate rocky relationships or strive for something positive in her life. She had to figure all that out on her own. Her mom was lost in a wasteland of drugs and abusive boyfriends and could not be counted on to protect her or her 7-year old half-sister, Kellie, from the trappings of that unstable life. It all changed last March.\n\n“I’d been working double shifts, seven days a week at the coffee house to get my mom and my sister out of that house,” says Chelsy. “It was a party house where gangbangers hung out, and the house was dirty with cockroaches everywhere; not a suitable place for Kellie.”\n\nThings escalated when Chelsy went to her mom’s one day and found her with her face swollen and bruised and, as it turned out, a broken rib. Chelsy did not want Kellie exposed to such violence and was not leaving the house without her. But her mom resisted Kellie leaving; the police were called and Chelsy and her mom began a short-lived custody battle. Her mom’s refusal to take a drug test sealed her parenting fate.\n\nWithin weeks Chelsy was awarded full guardianship of Kellie, and they began a life in a shared home with Chelsy’s boyfriend, Jason, and her good friend, John.\n\nSoon, however, Chelsy found herself in the Emergency Room with terrible stomach pain. A mass was discovered on each ovary – one benign and one active and diagnosed as pre-cancerous. She had lost her coffee shop job and was panicked at how she was going to fulfill her responsibilities of providing for Kellie. She did not want her ovaries removed, as she hopes to have her own children one day. She is seeking additional medical advice before any extraordinary or irreversible steps are taken.\n\n“I didn’t want to be doing nothing, so I decided I would get a degree or certification so that even if I did have cancer I’d have something for back-up in my life,” says Chelsy.\n\nShe enrolled in SJVC’s <a title="Medical Assistant program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/medical-assistant/" target="_blank">Clinical Medical Assisting</a> certificate program in <a title="SJVC Modesto" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/modesto/" target="_blank">Modesto</a> and began to organize her life in blocks of program modules and 2-month doctor visits. To her surprise, a few unexpected people lined up to show support. In addition to Kellie, Jason, John and her cousin, Sarah, who enrolled in the CMA program with her, Chelsy found SJVC staff and faculty cheering her on.\n\nJackie Kohler, Chelsy’s Admissions Advisor and Miss. Baughn, who teaches her lab class, have supported Chelsy’s efforts.\n\n“I could talk with Jackie Kohler about anything, and Miss Baughn works with you and makes you understand,” says Chelsy, who admits she never got along very well with her high school teachers. “They care what’s going on in your personal life. It makes me proud of my decision to be here and showed me I chose the right school.”\n\n“Chelsy’s long-term goal is to work in hospice or pediatrics because she stayed with her grandma while she was in hospice and she realizes that not many people have the heart to help people pass away comfortably,” says Alyssa Bahr, Dean of Students.\n\nLife has changed a lot for Chelsy and Kellie. Chelsy is more confident that her dreams for the future are attainable and that she and Kellie can be free of a life her mother imposed on them. Kellie is blossoming in Chelsy’s care.\n\n“Kellie is the happiest and in the best health she has ever been,” says Chelsy. “All her teachers, everyone sees it. She is making straight As and I’m so proud of her.”\n\nChelsy cooks for Kellie every day, goes for bike rides in the park with her and puts her to bed at a normal time. “She thanks me for getting her to bed at the right time,” says Chelsy. “She never had that before and it makes me so happy that we can do that.”\n\nChelsy has less hope for her mom, who calls Kellie every couple of nights. “She still doesn’t sound right,” says Chelsy, who does not think her mom will get better until she hits ‘rock bottom’.\n\nThe past holds little power over Chelsy and Kellie, now eight. “We both had to grow up a lot quicker than we expected to,” says Chelsy, who knows they are each others’ greatest source of inspiration.\n\n“She walks up to me and says, ‘I can’t wait to go to college like my Sissy and get a job,’” says Chelsy. “She and I will break the cycle of our drug addict family; I’m going to help her do that.”', 'CMA student breaks cycle of family dysfunction', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12471-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '', 12471, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12471-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0),
(12765, 4, '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '[caption id="attachment_2038" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-2038" title="Paula Askari and her two daughters" alt="Paula Askari and her two daughters" src="http://news.sjvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/11-300x300.jpg" width="300" height="300" /> Now the sole breadwinner for her family, Paula wanted to set an example and provide well for her two daughters.[/caption]\n\nEvery day Paula Askari wakes up, straightens her narrow shoulders and prepares for the arduous routine that will bring her one step closer to her dream of a job she loves and financial security. She looks at the two little girls who are the focal point of her efforts: 3-year old Layla and 1-year old Natalie.\n\n“I want the girls to have more than I had,” says Paula. “I want them to look back at this and say, ‘My mom went back to school and took care of us.’”\n\nOn their own since April, this little family of three has had plenty of uncertainties and the isolating stresses of a newly broken family. But when one thing is lost, it seems, something good can come in to fill the space.\n\nPaula knew that her hope for positive change hinged to a great extent upon getting an education. After working as a bank teller for four years, she had been a stay-at-home mom for almost a year. Now it was up to her to be the primary provider for her girls. The long, slow promotional ladder in the banking industry was not going to take care of their most immediate needs.\n\nPaula’s good friend, Pharmacy Technology student Christina, invited her to a Friends and Family Night at <a title="SJVC Antelope Valley" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/antelope-valley/">SJVC’s Lancaster campus</a>. Paula had finished her Financial Aid process earlier and was looking for the right education opportunity. During the presentation and tour, Paula realized that this was something she could see herself doing.\n\n“I love to help others and was drawn to the medical field, but as a <a title="Pharmacy Technology program" href="http://www.sjvc.edu/pharmacy-technology/">Pharmacy Technologist</a> I wouldn’t have to be in direct contact with patients and poking them and all the bloody stuff,” she says. “Plus, there’s the job security; it’s always going to be there.” She enrolled in the program.\n\nThe second light that rushed in to fill the dark was Paula’s sister, Melissa, and their father, Ray, who live several miles away. Melissa keeps wonderful care of Layla and Natalie while Paula is in class.\n\n“It’s a long day and I spend a lot of my day driving,” says Paula. But, the hardest part is leaving her daughters. “It breaks my heart to leave them, and Layla asks me to please stay.”\n\nThe emotional price is high, but the outcome will give them all the better life they deserve.\n\nPaula buckled down and devoted herself to her studies. She was initially shocked at how many medications and labels had to be memorized. It wasn’t long before she got her rhythm with homework, studies, exams and new modules. The first time she found herself on the Dean’s List and the recipient of a Perfect Attendance certificate, she was elated.\n\n“Paula strives to reach her full potential and is committed to doing her best,” says Lindsay Sapp, Pharmacy Tech instructor. “She constantly seeks new challenges and never fails to take responsibility for her learning.”\n\nPaula looks for inspiration and encouragement, and when she finds something that touches her heart and lifts her spirit…she puts it on the refrigerator. Right now, lyrics from a “Jesus Culture” song sustain her.\n<p align="center"><i>Higher than the mountains that I face,</i></p>\n<p align="center"><i>Stronger than the power of the grave,</i></p>\n<p align="center"><i>Constant through the trial and the change,</i></p>\n<p align="center"><i>One thing remains.</i></p>\n<p align="center"><i>Your love never fails, never gives up,</i></p>\n<p align="center"><i>Never runs out on me.</i><i> </i></p>\nPaula has enough of what she needs to make it through to graduation in February, 2014…and beyond.\n\nShe knows it may never be<i> </i>easy, but it is sure to be <i>easier</i>. She keeps her focus on tomorrow.\n\n“It’s been up and down, an emotional rollercoaster,” says Paula. “The girls are going through so much and school has been hard on all of us. But, we’re sacrificing a little bit now so that later on they’ll have more of my time.”\n\nPaula has figured out an awful lot in her 23-years.', 'Two little girls keep Pharmacy Tech student going', '', 'inherit', 'open', 'open', '', '12464-revision-v1', '', '', '2014-09-25 15:37:54', '2014-09-25 22:37:54', '', 12464, 'http://www.sjvc.edu/12464-revision-v1', 0, 'revision', '', 0);
